





y6Y6 





filass 
Book. 



COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT 




THE OLD COURT HOUSE. 



THE 



HISTORICAL SKETCH, 



AND ACCOUNT OF THE 



CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION 



AT 



YORK, PA., 
J"UJLjlZr 4, 1876. 



Containing an accurate account of the proceedings from the time of the 
sage of the resolution by the Town Council to celebrate the Nation's 
birth and the appointment of a committee to carry out the spir- 
it of the resolution, up to the close of the celebration ; the 
earnest and eloquent Prayer offered by the venerable 
Dr. A. H. Lochman ; the elaborate and instruct- 
ive Historical Sketch prepared by John Gib- - 
son, Esq. ; the beautiful Poem by E. N. 
Gunnison, Esq., and the eloquent O- 

ration delivered by George ,--~^' 

W. McElroy, Esq. 



YORK, PENNA. 
DEMOCRATIC PRESS PRINT. 

1876. 



Entered according to act of Congress, in the year 1 876, by 

EDWARD STUCK, 

In the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D. C. 



/. f.'^'' 



INTRODUCTION. 

At the close of the labors of the Centennial Com- 
mittee of arrangements of the Borough of York, It 
was deem^ " advisable as a matter of record for the 
information '^i future generations, that a detailed 
account of the celebration of the nation's birth, be 
preserved, commencing with the resolutions passed 
by the Congress of the United States, and continu- 
ing with the proclamation of President Grant and 
Governor Hartranft, the proceedings of the Com- 
mittee of Arrangements, and the subsequent ob- 
servance of the Centennial 4th, in all its "particulars. 

In order to carry the wishes of the Committee 
into effect, the following resolution was adopted : 

"The entire proceedings of the celebration were ordered to be published 
in paniplilet form, and Edward Stuck was authorized to prepare the same 
for publication with the assistance of the following committee. — Capt. 
Frank Geise, I. W G. Wierman, G. W. "Winehold, James Dale and Dr. 
Meisenhelder." 

At this meeting, the committee also adjusted its 
finances, and had the proud satisfaction of find- 
ing that the funds collected were sufficient to 
settle all the indebtedness incurred in the celebra- 
tion. As they were about to adjourn sme die, the 
idea was suggested and concurred in, that the Com- 
mittee continue its organization and meet at such 
time and place as may be convenient, upon the re- 
currence of each fourth of July and commemorate 
the national anniversary so long as one member 
of the Committee shall survive. 



Shortly after the 4th of July, the publication com- 
mittee met and addressed communications to the 
authors of the Prayer, Historical Sketch, Poem and 
Oration, which we append herewith, with the replies 
thereto, and after considerable work, have the pleas- 
ure to present the result of their labors to the peo- 
ple, whose approbation, we hope it will eet. 

York, Pa., July 10, 187G. 
John Gibson, Esq., 

Dear Sir:- -In accordance with the aecoinpauyiiig resolution, 
pas!?ed at ihe last meeting of the Centennial Coniniittee of the 
Borough of York, the committee, therein named, reispectfully re- 
quest you to furnish us with a copy of your valuable Historical 
Sketch, for publication, in connection with the Prayer, Poem, Or- 
ation and other events connected with that memorable celebra- 
tion of the nation's birth, and hope you will grant our request. 
The information it contains, and the interest it awakened at the 
time of its reading, demand that its presentation be secured in such 
form as to place it in the hands of the people, as also, to hand it 
down to future generations. 

Very respectfully yours, The Committee. 



Centennial Piiblieation Committee. 

Gentlemen : — Your kind favor lias been received. 
The sketch was hastily prepared, and as I'ar as was possible, it was 
framed in accordance with the recommendation of Congress. The 
statistics of our material progress are published from time to time 
and it does not need any record of such to prove it. Material 
wealth alone is not the only test of "the progress of our institutions 
during the first centennial of their existence." Therefore, I have at- 
tem})ted to show the part taken by our immediate ancestors in the 
moulding of our system of free government, the patriotism of our 
people in the times of our country's need, their public spirit in 
measures for the common good, nnd their zealous support of those 
institutions which are designed to foster the great interests of educa- 
tion and religion; all these are evidences of our prosperity and of the 
appreciation at all times by our people of those blessings of civil 
and religious liberty, bequeathed to us by our fathers- 

I have omitted some things which may be thought matters of 
historical interest, where they were not directly connected with the 



progress of our institutions, and which may be found collected in 
histories of the county long since compiled. Where I have omitted 
other facts, I can only say it was from want of information, and 
that it was not refjuired of me to compose a history of the county, 
but II sketch illustrative of the part our people had taken in the 
progress of our institutions, and by that standard only I ask that 
it be measured. 

Very respectfully yours, John Gibson. 



York, Pa,. July 10, 1870. 
Geo. W. McElroy, E.sq. 

Dear Sir: — We will be under many obligations to you for a copy 
of your able and eloquent address, delivered on the occasion of the 
celebration of the C'(!ntennial Anniversary, in Centre Square, for 
tlie ])urp()se of publishing it in pamphlet form, to preserve it with 
the history of that extraordinary occasion. 

Yours, &c, Committee of Publication. 



Centennial Piiblication Committee. 

Gentlemen: — Your note requesting a copy of my 
address, delivered at our Centciunial Celebration on the 4th of Ju- 
ly last, has been duly received. While I cheerfully comply with 
your recpiest to have the same published, I cannot but ex[)ress my 
regret tliat a want of suffi(;ient time to devote to its preparation, 
prevented me from avoiding the many imperfections it contains. 
Yours truly and sincerely, Geo. W. McElroy. 



CELEBRATION 

OF THE 



CENTENNIAL 4TH OF JULY, 

AT 

YORK, PENN'A., JULY 4th, 1876. 

The following is the resolution passed by the Congress of the 
United States, on the 1st of March, 1876, and the proclamation 
of the President, issued in accordance therewith, May 25, 1876 : 

Whekeas a joint resolution of the Senate and House of Repre- 
sentatives of the United States was duly approved on the 13th day 
of March last, which resolution is as follows : 

"jBe it resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled, That it be and is 
hereby recommended by the Senate and House of Representatives 
to the people of the several States that they assemble in their sev- 
eral counties or towns on the approaching centennial anniversary 
of our national independence, that they cause to have delivered 
on such day an historical sketch of said county or town from its 
formation, and that a copy of said sketch may be filed in print or 
manuscript in the clerk's office of said county and an additional 
copy in print or manuscript be filed in the office of the librarian of 
Congress, to the intent that a complete record may thus be obtain- 
ed of the progress of our institutions during the first centennial of 
their existence and whereas it is deemed proper that such recom- 
mendation be brought to the notice and knowledge of the people of 
the United States. 

Now, therefore, I, Ulysses S Grant, President of the United 
States, do hereby declare and make known the same in the hope 
that the object of such resolution may meet the approval of the 
people of the United States, and that proper steps may be taken to 
carry the same into effect. 

Given under my hand, at the city of Washington, the 25th 
day of May, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred 
and seventy six, and of the independence of the United States the 
one hundredth. 

By the President, U. S. GRANT. 

Hamilton Fish, Secretary of State. 



On the 29tli day of April, the Governor of Pennsylvania, issued 
the following proclamation : 

Whereas, By a joint resolution of the Senate and House of 
Representatives of the United I'-'tates of America, in Congress as- 
sembled, approved March 13, 1876, it is recommended by the 
Senate and House of Representatives to the people of the several 
States that they assemble in their several counties or towns on 
the approaching Centennial anniversary of our national independ- 
ence, and that they cause to have delivered on such day an histor- 
ical sketch of said county or town from its formation, and that a 
copy of said sketch maybe filed in print or manusciipt in the 
clerk's oflnce in said county ; and that an additional copy in print 
or manuscript be filed in the ofiice of the Librarian of Congress, to 
the intent that a complete record may thus be obtained of the pro- 
gress of our institutions during the first Centennial of their exis- 
tence. 

Now, therefore, I, John F. Hartranft, Governor as aforesaid, do 
hereby favorably commend this resolution to the people and the 
authorities of the various cities, counties and towns of this common- 
wealth, with the request that wherever the observance of the in- 
coming anniversary of our national independence will permit, pro- 
vision may be made to comply with the recommendation contained 
therein, so that these historical sketches may be made to embrace 
all the information and statistics that can be obtained in relation 
to the first century of our existence as a Commonwealth 

Given under my hand and the great seal of the State, at Harris- 
burg, this twenty-first day of April, in the year of our Lord one 
thousand eight hundred and seventy-six and of the Commonwealth 
the one hundredth. 

JOHN F. HARTRANFT. 
M. S. Quay, Secretary of the Commonwealth. 

On the fir«t of June there was a meeting of the Town Council 
of the Borough of York. 

JERE CARL, Chief Burgess. 

First Ward— John Mayer, T. K. White. 

Second " — E. J. Case, Henry AYeitzel. 

Third " — W. H. Grifiitli, i)avid Emmitt. 

Fourth " —Geo, A. Barnitz, Geo. W. Dietz 

Fifth " —Geo. F. Baugher, John Fahs, Jr. 

Sixth " —Geo. W. Wiuehold. Jas. B Small. 

Seventh" • — Solomon Rupp, I. W. G. Wierman 

Eighth " — Heniy Wagner, Andrew Harline. 

Ninth " — Dr. Ed. W. Meisenhelder, John Herman. 

The following resolutions were adopted : 



8 

Resolved, That a committee of five shall be appointed, whose 
duty it shall be to solicit voluntary contributions from the citizens 
of York and York county, in order that we may have a proper 
celebration of this Centennial Fourth of July, as requested by the 
joint resolution of Congress, approved March 13, 1875, and fur 
ther advised by the President's proclamation of May 25, 1876. 

Resolved, further, That this committee shall be empowered to 
solicit from the Commissioners of York county such pecuniary aid 
as they may be willing to give to the furtlierance of this project, 
and in honor of the noble yeomanry of York county, who, a cen- 
tury ago, were among the first to respond to the call to arms. 

Resolved further, That this committee shall have power and are 
requested to select a suitable person to prepare a historical sketch 
of York and York county, from its settlement to this date, in order 
that the same may be delivered here on the 4th of July ensuing, 
and a copy placed on file in the office of the Librarian of Congress, 
and in the (clerk's office of this county, in accordance with the 
aforementioned act of Congress. 

Resolved, That this committee shall also select some suitable 
person to deliver an oration on the centennial anniversary in the 
Borough of York, at such time and place, on that day, as they may 
arrange. 

Resolved That it shall further be the duty of this committee to 
have erected in the public square a liberty pole from which shall 
be unfurled a national flag of gootl material, uot costing over one 
hundred dollars, and from the top of which staff' shall float a 
streamer having the inscription "1776 Centennial 1876," and near 
the lower part of the staff" shall be placed the inscription: "Erect- 
ed by the citizens of York county, to the memory of their patriot 
fathers." 

Resolved, That the committee shall be empowered to make such 
other arrangements and do such other acts, as shall secure a patri- 
otic observance of the ensuing centennial anniversary. 

A committee, in accordance with the resolutions was appointed, 
who met on the 5th of June, and recommended the co-operation 
of a committee of citizens, two from each ward, and issued the 
following circular; 

• York, Pa., June 5, 1876. 

At a meeting of the Town Council, held June 1, 1876, it was re- 
solved that some action should be taken in reference to a proper 
celebration of the Nation's Centennial, both for the purpose of 
commemorating that happy event and of paying a fitting tribute 
t(» the memory of the brave men who, in that fearful struggle, 
faithfully represented the sturdy patriots of York county. Now, 
therefore, that the day may be fitly observed, in accordance with 
the President's Proclamation of May 25, and the Governor's Proc- 



lamation of April 29, 1876, requesting such action, we extend a 

cordial invitation to to take an active 

part in encouraging this worthy object^ to the end, that with one 
united eflFort, we may make the coming Fourth a day long to be 
remembered and the demonstration a triumphant success. 

York county, one hundred years ago, was the scene of many a 
stirring event in our National history, and it is proper that here in 
York which proved to be a city of refuge to the Continental Con- 
gress when driven out of Philadelphia, there should be enkindled 
a spirit of enthusiasm worthy of the occasion. Men of York coun- 
ty in honor of your heroic ancestors who feared neither the edicts 
of a royal tyrant, nor the treble peril of the halter, battle field, or 
prison cell, once more to the rescue! 

Edmund W. Meisenhelder, George W. Wixehold, 
T. K White, I. W. G. Wierman, 

Wm H. Griffith. 

P. S. — Please advise the Committee of your acceptance of this 
invitation. 

The committee of citizens was composed of the following named 

gentlemen : 

Chas. W. Myers, Edw. Chapin, Edw'd. Stuck, L. T. Dein- 
iNGER, Adam Reisinger, Jas. A. Dale, Frank Geise, M. L. 
Van Baman, H. Gipe, Dr. C. H. Bressler, David Myers, W. 
S. Schroeder, Martin Bender, J. P. Frick, M J. Seitz, W. 
Y. Link. 

The council and citizens committee, met on the 9th of June, 
and 

On motion, it was agreed that Rev. Dr. A. H. Lochraan be 
requested to offer the prayer. 

On motion, it was agreed that Fitz James Evans, Esq., be re- 
quested to read the Declaration of Independence. 

On motion, it was agreed that E. Norman Gunnison, Esq., 
be requested to write the Poem. 

On motion, it was agreed that John Gibson, Esq., be requested 
to write a Historical Sketch of York county. 

On motion, it was agreed that Geo. W. McElroy, Esq., be re- 
quested to deliver the Oration. 

On motion, it was agreed that Frank Geise Esq., be requested 
to act as Chief Marshal. 

On motion, it was agreed that Prof Thiele be requested to lead 
the Instrumental Music, and Prof. H. Gipe the Vocal Music. 

On motion, it was agreed that I. W. G Wierman, Esq., be re- 
([uested to procure a Flag Staff 100 feet high out of the ground, in 
two sections, painted white, and substantially mounted. 

It was determined bv the town council committee that the sev- 



lO 

era! ward committees shall constitute an advisory committee to act 
in conjunction with the regular committee in making the arrange- 
ments for the proper celebration of the coming Fourth of July. 

On the 10th of June the joint committees adopted the following 
programme : 

1. General illumination and ringing of bells from 12 M. to 1 
A. M. 

2. National airs by chimes of Trinity Reformed church from 4 
to 5 A. M. 

3. Salute of 13 guns at sunrise on the Commons, 

4. Raising of national flag in Centre Square by soldiers of the 
war of 1812, at 6 o'clock A. M., with music by Citizens' Band. 

5. Parade of Military, Fire, Civic Associations, Citizens, &c 
Parade to form at 9 and move at 9? o'clock, sharp 

6. National airs by united bands at close of parade in Centre 
Square. 

7. 1st, Prayer, by Rev. A. H. Lochman, D. D. 2nd, Music, 
"One Hundred Years ago," Haydn Q.uartette, 3rd, Reading of 
the Declaration of Independence, by Fitz James Evans. 4th, 
Music, by Citizens' Band. 5th, Historical Sketch of York coun- 
ty, by John Gibson, Esq. 6th, Music, "The Sword of Bunker 
Hill," by the Haydn Quartette. 7th, Benediction and Dismissal. 

8. In Centre Square at 6.30. 1st, Music "Star Spangled Ban- 
ner," by Grand Chorus. 2nd, Poem, by E. Norman Gunnison. 
3rd, Music, " Hail Columbia," Grand Chorus. 4th, Oration, by 
Geo- W. McElroy, Esq. 5th, America, by Grand Chorus 

9 Doxology. 

10. Fire Works — At 8j p. m. the display of fireworks. 

At this meeting it was resolved by the committees that in- 
vitations be and the same are hereby extended to all military, fire- 
men, musical, civic and social organizations, and to the soldiers 
of the wars of 1812, Mexican and the late war, of York county, to 
participate in the parade and celebration of July 7th next. 

The morning of the Fourth was ushered in with unexampled 
enthusiasm. At the stroke of twelve, midnight, a burst of light 
illuminated the town, and the simultaneous reports of innumerable 
numbers of small fire-arms were heard in every direction 
sounding like those of heavy platoons of artillery ; the houses were 
brightly illuminated and the church, engine and other bells were 
rung for hours, and the wildest excitement prevailed, which had 
the effect of stimulating every one with an unusual degree of pa- 
triotism. At 6 o'clock the raising of the national flag, by soldiers 
of the war of 1812, in Centre Square, took place. In the morning. 



1 1 

at 9 o'clock the procession, according to the programme, was form- 
ed in the following order : 

Order of Procession. — Chief Marshal, Frank Geise. Aids to 
Chief Marshal, Geo. W. Heiges, H. S. McNair, John Blackford. 
Horace Keesey. 

Committee of Arrangements. — 1st Divition. — Marshal, Lieut. 
Col. A. C. Stieg. Co. A, 8th Regt. N. G.; Co. C, SthRegt. N. G.; 
York Grays. 

2d Division. — Marshal, A- B. Jack. Worth Infantry Band, 
Laurel Fire Co., Rescue Fire Co., Union Fire Co. 

od Division — Marshal, A. T. Patterson. Mt. Vernon En- 
campment ISTo. 14, 1. O. O. F.; Humane Lodge No. 342, I. Q. O, 
F.; \Vm. Penn Lodge No. 2, I. O. M.; Dallastown Lodge No. 8. 
I. O. M. 

4th Division — Marshal, Samuel Wallick. Hanover Lodge, 
Knights of Pythias; White Rose Lodge K. of P., 211; Conewiugo 
Tribe No. 75, I. O. R. M.; Codorus Tribe No. 78, I. O. R. M.; 
Conewago Tribe No. 37, L O. R- M. 

5fh Division. — Marshal, John Mayer. St. Mary's Beneficial 
Association, St. Joseph's Beneficial Association, Arbeiter Associa- 
tion, St. Patrick's Beneficial Association (No. 100, I. C. B. U.j 

6th Division — Marshal, Geo. B. Cole. Friendly Circle No. 19, 
B. U. (H. F.) C. A ; Union Circle No. 2, B. U. (H. F.) C A.; 
York Star Circle No. 47, B. U. (H. F.) C. A.; Mystic Band of 
Brothers, Eureka Council No. 17. 

1th Division — Marshals, W. F. Eichar and G. W. VVelker, 
York Council No. 243, O. U. A. M.: Rose Council No. 316, O. U- 
A. M.; Codorus Council No. 115, O. U. A. M.: Laurel Council 
No. 163, O. U. A. M.; Sumraerfield Council No. 165, O. U. A. M. 

8th Division — Marshals, Isaac Rudisill and W. S. Schroeder. 
Chief Burgess. Town Council and its guests. County Officers, 
Board of School Control, Borough Superintendent, and a repre- 
sentative of the Public Schools of York, Soldiers of the late War 
and the Mexican War, Soldiers of the War of 1812, in carriages, 
Children of the "Home" in carriages. Historian, Orator, Poet, 
Reader of the Declaration of Independence, &c.. Clergy of York 
Borough, Citizens of York and vicinity in carriages. Members of 
the Bar and Bench, Representatives of different industries of York 
in vehicles. Delegations mounted, 

A number of wagons were in procession, upon which a number 
of our mechanics were at work, in their respective callings. A 
large-sized Gordon press was placed upon a wagon, by the enter- 
prising publisher of the York Daily, from which was issued minia- 
ture copies of his paper and distributed gratuitously along the 
line. Ru])ert & Huraer, tinners, were in procession making tm- 



12 

ware ; Brashears & Son were cutting stone ; seven coopers were 
making barrels upon a large wagon ; probably the most interest- 
ing wagon in line, was the brickyard of Mr. Wm. Wilt. The 
workmen in the yard were very industrious turning the brick out 
quite rapidly. One of them was kneading the clay with his bare 
feet; two music stores — J. W. Weaver's and J. W. Boll's were re- 
presented in line, with organ playing, as were also hatters, bakers 
sewing machines, reapers, and other mechanical interests. 

The number of persons in the procession is variously estimated 
at from four to six thousand. Delegations were present from 
Hanover, Wrightsville, Dallastown and the townships along the 
line of the Peach Bottom Railroad, and other points. 

All along the route our citizens generally contributed a bounti- 
ful supply of ice water, in many instances, large tubs from which 
were suspended a number of tincups, by which the participants in 
the parade were enabled to quench their thirst and refresh them- 
selves during the march. This action of our citizen cannot be too 
highly cammended and it speaks well for the generosity and pa- 
triotism of our people. 

The procession, after having gone over the route returned to the 
stand erected in Centre square, where after prayer by the Rev. 
Dr. A. H. Lochman, music by the united bands, the Declaration 
of Independence was read by Fitz James Evans, Esq., and the 
Historical Sketch of York County delivered by John Gibson, Esq. 

In the evening at six o'clock, the people again assembled in front 
of the stand in Centre Square and listened to the Grand Chorus, 
under the direction of Prof. Gipe, the reading of the Poem by E. 
Norman Gunnison, Esq., and the Oration by George W. McElroy, 
Esq. After which the people adjourned to the Fair Grounds and 
witnessed the splendid exhibition of fire works furnished by the 
committee of arrangements. 

Thus ended the celebration of the Centennial Fourth of July in 
York, in which the citizens participated with characteristic enthusi- 
asm, their hearts filled with patriotic emotions and uniting with 
zeal in the arrangements made by the authorities of the nation, the 
state and the Borough, making it a success worthy of being re- 
corded for future venerations. 



THE PRAYER ■ 

Offered at the Opeiiing of the Centennial Exercises oil 
July 4th, 1876. 

BY REV. A. H. LOCHMAN, D. D. 

Penetrated by a sense of Thine excellent great- 
ness, Thy infinite Majesty and Thy boundless good- 
ness, under a conviction of our entire dependence 
upon Thee as individuals and as a nation, we ad- 
dress Thy throne of grace. 

All nations are before Thee as a drop of the buck- 
et — Thou weighest the mountains in scales, and the 
hills in a balance — Thou takest up the isles of the 
sea as a very little thing — Thou makest the winds 
Thy chariot — Thy path is upon the mighty deep — 
Thou reignest in heaven and rulest upon the earth — 
Thy kingdom is over all, and Thy dominion hath no 
end, but Thy goodness is equal to Thy greatness, 
and Thy mercy tempers Thy judgments ; Therefore, 
whilst we tremblingly adore, we would confidently 
trust in Thee. We thank Thee, that the lines have 
fallen unto us in pleasant places, and that ours is a 
goodly heritage. For the blessings of civil and re- 
ligious liberty we have so long and richly enjoyed, 
for that government under which we have so long 
lived in security at home, and honored abroad. We 
pray Thee graciously to regard us and bestow upon 



14 THE PRAYER. 

US Thy superintending care in days to come, as Thou 
hast in days past. 

Preserve untarnished the fair fame of our coun- 
try's glory, and enable us to transmit to our latest 
posterity, the rtch legacy bequeathed to us by our 
fathers. Make this land a praise and glory in the 
earth, and a blessing to all nations ; especially do we 
beseech Thee, to look graciously upon us and the 
V millions of this land, whilst celebrating this our hun- 
dredth birthday as a nation, and whilst engaged in 
our festivities may we never forget that Thine eye is 
upon us — and may our rejoicings be tempered with 
propriety. We bless Thee that thou hast, for every 
emergency, called forth and qualified men to carry out 
Thy gracious purposes. 

We thank Thee for that noble, dignified and self- 
sacrificing patriotic band who this day one hundred 
years a^o penned that unequalled declaration of our 
rights as freemen, and in its support pledged their 
lives, theirfortunes and their sacred honor. We bless 
Thee for the trumpet- tongue of the old bell whose echoes 
roused the spirit of patriotism throughout the land — 
for the heroism with which Thou didst inspire our 
revolutionary sires, that they were able to maintain 
the declaration of their rights and that Thou didst es- 
tablish us as an independent nation. We bless Thee 
that ever since we have had an existence as a peo- 
ple, Thou hast never withdrawn Thy favor — but hast 
brought us unscathed through the severest trials of 
foreign aggression and of unparalleled domestic 



THE t>RAVER. t$ 

strif'e ; and that the world over, uhis land is known as 
the home of the free and the land of the brave — that 
the problem has been solved by the experience and 
testimony of loo years that man is capable of self- 
government. For the unequalled progress we have 
made as a nation in every department of national 
prosperity — for the development of all our natural 
resources, so that though but in our infancy we have 
taken high rank among the nations of the earth' — . 
for all these and other manifestations of Thy favor 
we wsould render to Thee our heartfelt acknowledg- 
ments — and we would beseech Thee be Thou with us 
as Thou hast been with our fathers, take this land un- 
der Thy special care and favor — make this govern- 
ment a blessing to us and an example to all other 
nations, may the fair fabric of our republican govern- 
ment rise higher and higher until from its command- 
ing peak Its light shall shine and the notes of her 
fame shall echo throughout the world and proclaim 
to the already tottering thrones of monarchs : A na- 
tion if sober, moral and virtuous is capable of self" 
government. 

We pray Thee, O God, baptize this nation with the 
Holy Ghost, that all its resources and energies may 
be consecrated to Thy service — that we may become 
a God-fearing, religious and holy people^ — as renown^ 
ed for Its virtue and piety as for its cIvH and religions 
liberty. 

Bless all those in authority from the highest tp the 
lo-west ; may they be men suited to their p>osItIon, may 
they rule in the fear of God, antl may their best efforts 



I 6 THE PRAYER. 

be to promote the highest interests of the Republic. 
These Thanksgivings we render, and these peti- 
tions we offer in the name of our Lord and Saviour 
Jesus Christ, to whom with the Father and the Holy 
Ghost, we would ascribe honor, praise and glory, for- 
ever. Amen, 



HISTORICAL SKETCH 

OF THE 

COUNTY OF YORK, PENNSYLVANIA. 

Delivered at York, Jidy 4, 1876. 

Fellow Citizens : 

We greet this anniversary and each 
other to-day with more than ordinary enthusiasm. — 
We rejoice because our nation has attained a century 
of existence, and hail the commencement of a new 
era under the auspices of free government. The 
Conorress of the United States have recommended, 
that on the centennial anniversary of our national 
independence, an historical sketch of each county or 
town from its formation be delivered to the assem- 
bled people, "to the intent that a complete record 
may thus be obtained of the progress of our institu- 
tions durinuf the first centennial of their existence." 
To illustrate then the part our own people have ta- 
ken in the progress of that political freedom and ma- 
terial prosperity which is the boast of our common 
country, and to show what we have done and contrib- 
uted towards its vast expansiveness of national grand- 
eur, is my task to-day. 

The Founder of this Commonwealth planted his 
colony in the forests of Pennsylvania as a "Holy Ex^ 



1 8 HISTORICAL SKETCH. 

perlment." The doctrine taught by him and the re- 
ligious sect with which he was joined, was received 
with no favor ; yet the *'inner light" of the Quaker fs 
the foundation of all true liberty and government — 
not forms, made for the people, but by the people 
for themselves. When William Penn landed upon 
the shore of the Delaware on the 27th of October, 
1682, the right of representation was enjoyed to some 
extent in all the colonies which had preceded his ; but; 
freedom of conscience, combined with free govern- 
ment, had not yet entirely been accepted. The lan- 
guage of the Quaker proprietaries was : "We lay a 
foundation for after ages to understand their liberty 
as Christians and as men, that they may not be brought 
into bondage, but by their own consent, for we put 
the Power in the People." 

The history of the people of the United States of 
America, of Pennsylvania, and of York County, is the 
same in every feature, from the first settlements among 
the aborigines, on through the struggle for popular 
rights, to the present consummation. A race of men 
occupied these lands before us, who have disappear* 
ed before what we call civilization. No attempt has 
been made to investigate the history of the tribes 
who inhabited this region, though there is room for 
the exercise of the skill of the archaeologist in deci- 
phering inscriptions, or other rude and scanty re- 
mains of the aborignal inhabitants. We hold the 
lands that they occupied, and therefore ought to show 
the origin of our titles, and see how we were planted 
here, 



Historical sketch. \^ 

Although William Penn had title under the war- 

rpj^ rant of Charles II by European Law, he had 

Manor acquIrcd an independent title from the Indians; 

from the Five Nations who claimed to have conquer- 
ed the resident tribes on the Susquehanna, from the 
Kings of the Susquehannas, and from the Conesto- 
gas. So too an independent title was acquired to the 
Springettsbury Manor. 

Three nations of Indians, as they are called in the 
old records, had their towns and settlements on the 
north or east bank of the Susquehanna River, and 
were much disturbed by the settlements of intruders 
"over against them." They requested, at a treaty, 
that a large tract of land right against their towns on 
the Susquehanna might be surveyed for the proprie- 
tary's use only, trusting to his bounty and goodness 
for whatever was necessary and convenient for them. 

By the primitive regulations for laying out lands in 
the province, William Penn had issued a warrant to 
the surveyor genera-l, to survey for the proprietor, 
five hundred acres of every township of five thousand 
acres. This was the proprietary one tenth. But it 
was said that the tracts surveyed were far short of 
the proprietary's due, and therefore there was sur- 
veyed ior his use, on the 19th and 20th of June, 1722, 
a certain tract of land, situate on the west side of the 
Susquehanna, then in the county of Chester after- 
wards of Lancaster, and now of York, containing 
75,520 acres ; commencing on the Susquehanna, op- 
posite the mouth of Conestoga creek, extending 



20 HISTORICAL SKEICH. 

thence W. S. W. ten miles, thence N. W. by N. 
twelve miles, thence E. N. E. eigfht miles, and thence 
along Sir William Keith's tract, called Newberry, to 
the Susquehanna river again, in the name and for the 
Vise of the Honorable Springett Penn, Esquire, to 
bear his name and be called the manor of Springetts- 
bury. A part of this orginal tract was subsequently 
cut off, und^r an agreement between Penn and Bal- 
timore, to satisfy the claims of Maryland settlers ; 
and by a survey in 1768, it was found to contain 64,- 
520 acres ; bounded by a north and south line west 
of the dwelling plantation of Christian Oyster, and by 
east and west lines about three miles distant north 
and south from York. These lines might be traced, 
in the original titles of the lands embraced by them, 
with some degree of interest to the present holders. 

The proprietary manors were reserved by the 
legislature after the Revolution to the Penns, while 
their tide to all other lands in the province w^as 
divested in favor of the Commonwealth. Spring- 
ett Penn was the grandson of William Penn, the 
son of his oldest son, William, and hence the heir 
at-law. Governor Keith told the Indians, at the 
treaty, that Springett Penn, "now a man as tall 
as he," was the lord of all this country in the room 
of his grandfather. But the grandfather by his will 
gave Pennsylvania to the younger branch of the fam- 
ily, little estimating its immense value. John, Thom- 
as and Richard took possession, and through them 
the titles to all lands within the manor are derived. 

Governor Keith also told the Indians, that when he 



HISTORICAL SKETCH. 21 

would cause the tract of land to be taken up on the 
other side of the Susquehanna for th«i grandson of 
William Penn, and the land would be marked with 
Springett Penn's name upon the trees, it would keep 
off the "Mary Landers," and every other person what- 
soever, from coming to settle near them to disturb them. 
This assurance proved fallacious. For the Maryland 
intrusions became so great, that in order to resist 
them, encouragement had to be offered to persons 
for forming settlements on the tract surveyed. — 
The confirmation of the titles of these Pennsylvania 
settlers was delayed on account of Indian claims to 
the land, which were finally released on the iith of 
October, 1736. Those who had settleci at that time, 
were, perhaps, fifty in number ; but in addition to 
them the population of the manor tract and of the 
neighboring country rapidly increased. 

These first settlements were by Germans, about 
Kreutz and Codorus creeks, and hence were 

Tlie , 

Early populated Hellam, Springgarden, York, 
Shrewsbury and Springfield townships. — 
These settlers were Lutherans and German Reform- 
ed, and they soon formed congregations. The Bar- 
rens were settled about the same time by Scotch Irish, 
and hence were populated Chanceford, Fawn, Peach- 
bottom. Hopewell and part of Windsor townships. 
They were Presbyterians and soon built a church near 
Muddy creek. The term "barrens" was derived 
Irom the lack of timber in that section of the county, 
cleared, it is said, b)- the fires of the Indians for 
hunting purposes; a term no longer applicable, in 



2 2 HISTORICAL SKETCH. 

any sense, to the improved and flourishing farms 
in those townships. Then Quaker famihes from 
Chester settled in Newberry township, among the 
Red Lands, followed by others, and so was filled 
the northern part of the county, Newberry, Fair- 
view, Monaghan, Warrington, Franklin, Washing- 
ton and Carrol townships. Among these settlers 
was Ellis Lewis, the ancestor of one of the chief jus- 
tices of this state. A Maryland patent to John Dig- 
ges of 10,000 acres, included the site of Hanover, 
Heidelberg township of York county, and Ger- 
many and Conewago, now of Adams. There were 
also settlers about the Pigeon Hills under Maryland 
titles. Germans followed here, and spread them- 
selves over all the central and richer portions of the 
county. 

The Germans who came over the river as early as 
1729 to the fertile soil about Kreutz creek, had some 
severe trials to undergo. They were driven from 
their homes, seized and imprisoned by the Maryland 
intruders, who tried by force to maintain their claims 
under the pretended title of Lord Baltimore, as far 
as Wright's Ferry, the site of Wrightsville, and at one 
time almost to the limits of the after site of York- 
town. The dispute began in the life time of William 
lYmn, and was not settled for fifty years after his 
death. In this early period when York County was 
first settled by Pennsylvanians, the violent attempts 
to drive them out, made this border country a scene 
of strife and bloodshed. History is travestied when 
we find, that the most notorious of these intruders, a 



HISTORICAL SKETCH. 23 

quarrelsome man, who kept up a continual broil and 
breach of the peace, exciting the detestation of the 
Pennsylvanians, appears in the annals of Maryland, 
as Col. Thomas Cressap, a colonial hero. 

Cressap is still traditionally remembered in the 
section of country which he made so warm. He 
built a fort at the mouth of the creek where Leber's 
mill now is, in Lower Windsor township. Armed 
bands sent hither by the countenance, if not by the 
express orders, of Governor Ogle of Maryland, were 
under his command, and many acts of violence were 
committed upon the just owners, which were ended 
only by his arrest by the sheriff of Lancaster County, 
after a desperate fight; which event occurred on the 
23rd of November, 1736. Cressap claimed under 
a patent from the Governor of Maryland, who also 
granted to another over zealous intermeddler with 
other people's rights, one Charles Higgenbotham, a 
patent for land north of the Codorus; a man who 
rivalled Cressap In violent attempts to eject our Penn- 
sylvania settlers and drive them from their lands 
west of the Susquehanna. But the Germans when 
aroused were able to maintain their rights. 

This mode of summary ejectment tried by Cressap 
and Higgenbotham did not originate with them. It 
was the way of the time, and they acted under author- 
ity, such as it was. So, when at an earlier period, in 
I 72 I , a man by the name of John Grist squatted west 
of the Susquehanna, and of course could not get along 
with the Indians, a warrant, with i\\Q posse co?miafus,\\2.s 
issued, with instructions to burn and destroy the dweh 



24 HISTORICAL SKETCH, 

lings and habitations of himself and accomplices in 
case of refusal This was not done to the letter, but 
on the other hand, when Indians destroyed some of his 
property, with true squatter claims he made complaint 
to the Council at Philadelphia, The question of 
squatter sovereignty, which is hardly settled In our 
day, was not entertained by that board, and Grist 
was put to jail, and released only on condition of his 
removal from the lands he had occupied. This is the 
history of the first squatter in this section of coun- 
try. Others attempted the same after the manor was 
laid out, and they were also removed. The first au- 
thorized settlement was made in 1729, and licenses 
were thereafter issued, which the Germans eagerly 
accepted, and after their troubles enjoyed happy 
homes as we know to this day. 

It would be well here as a part of the history of so- 
cial developement to contrast the "simplicity of the 
first settlers in this region with the fashions of the 
present day. In the language of the History of York 
county: "The early inhabitants of the Kreutz creek 
region were clothed for some years, altogether in tow 
cloth as wool was an article not to be obtained — 
Their dress was simple, consisting of a shirt, trowsers 
and frock. During the heat of summer a shirt and 
trowsers of tow formed the only raiment of the in- 
habitants. In the fall the frock was superadded. — 
When the cold of winter was before the door, and 
Boreas came rushing from the North, the dress was 
adapted to the s,eason by increasing the number of 
frocks, so that in the coldest part of the winter, some 



HISTORICAL SKETCH, 25 

of the Sturdy settlers were wrapt in four, five and ev- 
en more frocks, which were bound closely about their 
loins, usually with a string of the same material as 
the garments."" 

"But man ever progresses ; and when sheep were 
introduced, a mixture of tow and wool was consider- 
ed an article of luxury. But tow was shortly after- 
wards succeeded by cotton, and then linsey zvoolsey 
was a piece of the wildest extravagance. If these sim- 
ple, plain and honest worthies could look down upon 
their descendants of the present day, they would won- 
der and weep at the changes of men and things. If 
a party of them could be spectators of a ball of these 
times, in the Borough of York, and see silksand crapes, 
and jewels and gold, in lieu of tow frocks and linsey 
v;oolsey finery, they would scarcely recognize their 
descendants, in the costly and splendid dresses before 
them ; but would no doubt be ready to imagine that 
the nobles and princes of the earth were assembled 
at a royal bridal. But these honest progenitors of 
ours have passed away, and have left many of us, we 
fear, nothing but the names they bore, to mark us 
their descendants." Though they also lived in log 
houses, and used wooden cups and platters and spoons^ 
with pewter as an imported luxury, they knew how to 
select choice, fertile spots for farms. 

Around and about them were the Indians, occas- 
sionally robbing an apple orchard or frightening with 
red painted faces the women and children, and not 
dangerous unless under the influence of fire water, 
for which they showed an intense fondness, chiefs and 



2 6 HISTORICAL SKETCH. 

squaws alike, when they could get it. The policy of 
William Penn had made it peaceful throughout the 
province, with the savages ; but some of the tribes 
further off were troublesome, and constant ne^otia- 
tions and treati(2s were had and made throuo;h com- 
missioners. The principal of these was the celebra- 
ted interpreter Conrad Weiser, the progenitor of a 
laro-e number of descendants, through this remon of 
country. An ancestor of whom they may v.^ell be 
proud. 

The first public improvement made, was a road 
from Wright's Ferry westward, laid out in 1740, on 
the application of the inhabitants of Hellam, which ap- 
pears to have been the first township erected west of 
the Susquehanna. This road was intended to reach 
the Potomac and led to the Monocacy road, near the 
Province line, a distance of about thirty-four miles. — 
It crossed the Big Codorus, as it is styled in the sur- 
vey, about where Philadelphia street now crosses that 
stream ; then in the midst of a wilderness. 

"Although there were many habitations in its neigh- 
-, , borhood, yet so late as the year i 740, there 

was not one building within the present lim- 
its of the Borough of York." The History of York 
county says : "The 'Queen of the Wilderness' then 
held her solitary throne where now the 'city full' 
is cheered with everything that arc and industry can 
render lovely or attractive." 

A survey for the proprietor's use was made in Oc- 
tober, 1741, of a tract on both sides of the Codorus, 
within the limits of Springettsbury manor, for the .sr/Ze' 



HISTORICAL SKETCH. 



27 



of a town whereon York has since been laid out and 
built. The part east of the Codorus was laid out in- 
to squares, after the manner of Philadelphia. The 
squares were made 480 feet by 520 feet; the lots 230 
by 65. Two streets eighty feet wide were, to cross 
each other, and 65 feet square was to be cut off the 
corner of each block to make a square for any public 
buildinors or market of no feet each side. 

On recjuest made to the proprietors for permission 
to "take up a lot," a certificate or ticket, as it was 
called, was issued to the applicant, and the lot 
was then surveyed to him. The certificate only gave 
a right to build in order to obtain a patent; and was 
granted on condition: "that the applicant build upon 
the lot at his own proper cost one substantial dwell- 
ing house of the dimensions of sixteen feet square at 
least, with a good chimney of brick or stone to be 
laid in or built with lime or sand, within the space of 
one year from the time of his entry for the same." 
A yearly rent was to be paid to the proprietor of 
seven shillings. 

"The first application or entry of names for lots in 
Yorktown was in November, 1741," and "it may not 
be uninteiesting to show what parts of the town were 
first chosen by the early settlers in it." 

The first lot taken up, was that on which the hotel 
stands, known as the the Kindig House. Then the 
adjoining lot towards the market house. 

The next lot was that on which Nes' old brewery 
stood, in North George street, between the rail road 
and the bridge, east side. 



28 HISTORICAL SKETCH. 

Then a lot nearly opposite the German Reformed 
Church, and the two lots adjoining it on the west. 

Then were chosen at about the same time, the lot 
on which the building of H. Kraber, on East Market 
street now stands; that on the south-east corner of 
Market and Water streets ; a lot at Water street, 
formerly John Lay, over which the rail road passed ; 
that occupied by the York Bank, and a house oppo- 
site, once William Sayres, later William Brown ; those 
on the south-east, south-west and north-west corners 
of Market and Beaver streets. 

"In that month twenty three lots were taken up, 
and no more were taken up until the loth and nth 
of March 1746, Vv^hen forty-four lots were disposed of. 
In 1748, and two years following, many applications 
w^ere made, for York had then become a county 
town." The building of the town, judged by modern 
progress, proceeded slowly, for we find that after 
the lapse often years, fn 1751, there were but fifty 
lots built on. Yet many a town has been laid out on 
a much larger scale than York, and never got be- 
yond fifty houses. The original area was by offi- 
cial survey found to be 446^ acres, to this, Hay's Ad- 
dition, in 181 4. gave 60 acres more. 

The names given to the streets indicated loyal 
sentiments at that period — George, King, Prince, 
Duke. They sound now like the loyalty of Rip Van 
Winkle after his prolonged sleep, during which in- 
dependence had been achieved. 

We learn from letters at the time that the town had 
the troubles incident to such settlements, as failures 




\ORK COLLEGIATE INSTITUTE. 



HISTORICAL SKETCH. 29 

to fulfill the conditions and consequent forfeitures; 
different men wanting the same lot, and some takino- 
possession of lots without leave or license. But we 
must not be too harsh on our predecessors, for York 
was then on the borders of civilization and had the ex- 
perience common to frontier towns. Nor did private 
clashing- interests disturb the whole communit)', for 
we find diat the churches were not forgotten ; two 
lots were taken by the Lutherans and one by the 
( ierman Reformed congregations. The first church 
built in York was the Lutheran in 1744, and the 
German Reformed two years later. 

The History of York County says : "At about 
this period, York must have been a most desert 
place, very unlike what she now is in the "splendor 
of her domes," and the "richness of her profusion." — 
Within the very limits of York, the proprietaries' 
timber was cut down in large quantities for burning 
brick and lime. Yet with its first rude dwellinors. 

o 

some ot them, perhaps, miserable, the town must have 
been picturescjuely built in the woods, with the Co 
dorus in its virgin beauty flowing gently around the 
occupied portion. It was destined soon to become a 
shiretown. 

The people west of the Susquehanna asked for a 

new county on account of the great hardships 

new they laid under by being at so great distance 

Coiintv. - , , - . . ,11 

irom where the courts 01 justice were hekl, 
and also because idle and dissolute persons, who re- 
sorted to the remote parts of the province, and 
committed thefts and abuses, frequently found means 



30 HISTORICAL SKETCH. 

of making their escape, by reason of the great dis- 
tance from the court to prison. 

We cannot suppose that the result of the holy ex- 
periment of William Penn was to make all men in the 
province good, when such rogues abounded ; but to 
enquire whence they came? is to ask the unanswer- 
able question, whence the origin of evil ? 

We know that with true freeman's confidence in 
lavvand its administration under their own cognizance, 
our people were satisfied that the establishment of a 
court of justice, at York, would afford sufficient reme- 
dy for the evils of which they complained. This was 
in the year 1 749 ; and that must have been a great 
day for York and York County, when the first court 
of quarter sessions of the peace was held before 
John Day, Esquire, and his associate justices, on the 
31st day of October, in the 23rd year of his majesty 
George II. On the following day was held the first 
orphans' court before the same justices. A court of 
common pleas was organized at the same time, and 
the first suit was brought to January Term 1750. 

The offices of prothonotary, clerk of the courts^ 
register of wills and recorder of deeds, were vested 
in George Stephenson, deputy surveyor, a man who 
became active in the affairs of the county, and was 
one of its sub-lieutenants during the revolutionary 
war. 

Under the Quaker regime the county courts were 
not held by lawyers, but by justices of the peace ; 
and hence when under later forms of government, law^ 
judges as presidents were placed upon the bench. 



HISTORICAL SKETCH. 3 1 

two citizens, not learned in the law, were placed by 
his side to protect, we presume, the liberties of the 
people, some of whom, in the early days of the com- 
monwealth, were not slow to assert their equality of 
prerogative in the administration of the law ; as in 
the case of Judge Addison, who was impeached for 
denying this privilege to his lay brother on the bench. 
The judges of the supreme court were lawyers, who 
went the circuit, holding 7iisi prius courts for civil 
pleas in the several counties. 

Our people in those days had exaggerated ideas 
of liberty, which all beginners in the enjoyment of po- 
litical freedom are apt to display. The first election 
for sheriff of the new county was the scene of a most 
notable riot. A war of races between the Germans 
and the Irish. Richard McAlister, was the favorite 
of the Germans, as candidate for sheriff, and Hance, 
commonly called Hans Hamilton, of the Irish, which 
•gave the appearance of an anomaly, a German Mac 
and an Irish Hans, as leaders of the contest. The 
polls were at the public house, built of logs, and not 
quite finished ; through an opening between the logs 
at one end of the house the tickets were received.— 
This first public house in York was kept by Adam 
Miller, for which a license was granted at November 
sessions, 1742, by the Court of Lancaster county. It 
was in the north-west corner of the Centre square 
and was afterwards kept by Baltzer Spangler. 

The Irish took possession of the polls, determined 
that none but their friends should vote. A fight en- 
:sued, resulting- in a German victory and the election 



32 HISTORICAL SKETCH. 

of McAlister. But by one of those political artifices, 
in vogue then as now, Hans Hamilton was commis- 
sioned sheriff, by Lieut. Governor Hamilton, for one 
year. Hans must have belonged to the ring. This 
first exercise of the right of suffrage in York county 
was a vigorous instance of the appreciation of her 
citizens of that inestimable rio;ht. At the next elec- 
tion, in October, i 750, a large party of Germans drove 
away the people, knocking down the sherift^ — the cor- 
oner leading the party. Investigation showed that 
the sheriff was to blame. There were other occas- 
ional election disturbances afterwards requiring offi- 
cial correction, but not worse, perhaps, than some 
that occur in our day. 

The candidates just named, both became men of 
distinction. Hans Hamilton was a brave officer in 
the French and Indian war, was an associate judge of 
the common pleas for many years, and a very active 
and patriotic citizen at the time of the Revolution. — 
As was also Richard McAlister, who was Lieutenant 
of the county during the Revolutionary war, commis- 
sioned as such by the provincial council, and who 
with Thomas Hartley, was a member of the council 
of censors under the constitution of 1794. 

Yorktown having thus been settled, and the coun- 
ty establishfed, their progress was to some 
Temi)ordrv extent Still interrupted by the border troub- 
les. For the purpose of allaying these, by 
the order of his Majesty George II, temporary limits 
were fixed, and a line known as the "The Temporary 
Line" was run between the provinces of Pennsylva- 



HISTORICAL SKETCH. 33 

nia and Maryland, In the year i 739. This line was a 
short distance above the present state line ; its exact 
locality cannot now be ascertained. The troubles In 
the eastern portion of the county were ended. But 
In the western part, in and around DIgges' choice, 
where settlements had been first made by Marylan- 
ders ; and also settlements under Pennsylvania claims; 
the confusion became worse, and much bitterness of 
feeling existed for some years. 

A remarkable trial took place at York on the 30th 
of October, 1752, A case of homicide resulting from 
a quarrel concerning the title to lands under a Mary- 
land grant. The authorities of Maryland demanded 
the delivery of the prisoner to them for trial, which 
was refused by Pennsylvania. At the trial It was prov- 
ed that the grant was north of the temporary line, in 
violation of the royal order, and the evidence showing 
that the killing was perhaps accidental, the prisoner 
was acquitted. The victim of this last border trage- 
dy was Dudley Digges, a son of John DIgges, the 
original patentee of "Digges' choice." 

The citizens of that section of country did not know 
to which province they belonged. It is said that some 
refused payment of taxes to either, and yet had the 
choice of the courts of either province to sue in or 
appeal for protection of person and property. Un- 
der the royal order allegiance was due to the prov- 
ince from which the title was received. 

Commissioners were appointed on the part of each 
province in i yo^, who fixed the boundary line and set- 
tled the prolonged and painful controversy. Two 



34 HISTORICAL SKETCH. 

TVT distlnofuished mathematicians, Charles Mas- 

Mason o 

'^^ , on and Jeremiah Dixon, broutrht peace to a 

Dixon s , . 

Line. cHsturbed countryby running- thatevermemor- 

able hne, celebrated in subsequent history as Mason's 
and Dixon's line. It was run in the winter of 1767- 
1768, in latitude 39° 43' 18". In determining which, 
the official reports say, much science and many intri- 
cate mathematical problems were involved. The 
line was marked by stones one mile apart, and on 
every fifth mile stone was graven the arms of the 
proprietaries upon the sides facing their respective 
territories. 

The troubles arising- from confiictino- titles were not 
Hanover entirely settled when the town of Hanover 
was laid out by Richard McAlister in 1764. He di- 
vided his farm into lots for that purpose ; and it is 
said his project met with some ridicule, for it was a 
wilderness around. The handsome and substantial 
borough now built there, of 3000 inhabitants, would 
astonish the primitive settlers. The house of Rich- 
ard McAlister. now cased in brick, is still pointed out, 
as is also the first house, a log one, built on one of 
his lots. The early history of Hanover is remarkable 
by reason of its having become a "city of refuge." — 
Its site was a part of Digges' choice, and consequent- 
ly its settlers owed allegiance to Maryland, ''li' the 
sheriff of York county could catch the delinquent one 
hall mile out ot town in a north-western direction, 
then he might legally make him his prisoner under 
the authority of the courts of the county." On one 
occasion, it is related, that robbers who had broken 



HISTORICAL SKETCH. 35 

into the store of its founder, Richard McAlister, were 
seized and taken to York ; but the sheriff of York 
county refused to receive them, saying, "You of Han- 
over wish to be independent, therefore, punish your 
villains yourselves." 

The place also seems to liave been the German 
centre in the contests with the Irish, who occupied 
principally those townships which afterwards were 
formed into Adams county. 

Hanover was laid out within the township of 
Heidelberg, one of the original townships of the 
county. When the county of York was formed, we 
find that nothwithstanding the large proportion of 
German settlers, the townships had, except in two 
or three instances, pronounced English names; such 
as Dover, Manchester, Shrewsbury, Hellam, Chance- 
ford, Newberr)', Warrington. The townships were 
lormed on the petition of the inhabitants as needs 
seemed to require; but how the names were assigned 
we do not know. Monaghan is an Irish name. Co- 
do rus is Indian, from the stream, said to have been 
originally, Cadwarese, But there were two names of 
townships ver)' suggestive of the original home of 
the German occupants of the soil — Heidelberg and 
Manheim. ^ 

The Palatinate upon the Rhine, and places adja- 
I'aiatines. ctMit. tumislied the ancestors ot many citizens 
of York county, and of those who now constitute 
some of the principal families in wealth and culture. 
Mannheim was the capital of the Rhenish Palatinate; 
a few miles distant from it the ancient and beautihil 



36 HISTORICAL SKETCH. 

city of Heidelberg. Both had experienced the worst 
calamities of fire and sword, and their names were 
endeared to the palatines who fled to our shore for 
the sake of religious liberty. Heidelberg is celebra- 
ted at this day, for its university, perhaps, the most fa- 
mous in the world. 

The Palatines formed no inconsiderable part of 
that great body of men planted on the American soil, 
who would one day assert and maintain the principles 
of civil and religious liberty. The German reformers, 
fleeing from persecution, with the Huguenots, the 
Puritans and the Quakers, all sought freedom of con- 
science in new homes; but the germs of civil liberty 
were also growing on this continent into a wide 
spreading tree. The common law and customs of 
England had been implanted here, and the people 
were prepared to take part in public affairs and mould 
them tor the common good. 

Hitherto your attention has been directed to such 
French ^^^^^ matters in the history of the county as 
War. serve to illustrate its early setdement and 

progress ; but at the period to which we have now 
arrived events had occurred deeply affecting all the 
people ot the American colonies. A war between 
France and England for the possession of the Ohio 
Valley had been body contested. A terrible lesson 
was administered to the British troops led by General 
Braddock to the forfeit of his life, on the 9th of July 
1755; bringing out into the conspicuous view of all 
America, the calm intrepidity and clear judgment of 
the destined leader of her armies, in the person of 



HISTORICAL SKETCH. 37 

Colonel Georcre Washing-ton, of Virginia. 

The terrors of that war had approached the con- 
fines of the county of York. The dwellers along the 
Yellow Breeches creek and in the Carroll district, were 
driven from their homes; in some instances experien- 
ced the cruelties of savage warfare — thefire brand, the 
tomahawk, the scalping knife, and the massacre. It 
was reported that the enemy were within a day's 
march of York. The people from all parts of the 
county fled towards the river settlements; the women 
and children were removed from Wright's Ferry 
across the river. Hans Hamilton marched with sixty 
men to Cumberland county; others followed, and he 
had two hundred men under his command. Associ- 
ated militia companies were formed at home, and 
some participated in the fighting, and suffered severely 
in killed and wounded. 

The earl of Loudoun, placed in military command 
of America with a commission establishing a power 
superior to that of the governors, by his conduct ex- 
asperated the colonies and widened the breach with the 
mother country. Some of his troops were quartered 
here in York, occasioning some apprehension, on ac- 
count of complaints made in other places where the 
British soldiers were billeted on the citizens, but no 
harm was done. After he was recalled for inefficiency, 
and General Abercrombie was placed in command, the 
policy of the British government was changed. Col- 
onial troops had hitherto been treated with disdain, 
but the colonies now were invited by the prime minister, 
the elder Pitt, to raise men; Pennsylvania and Vir- 



3^ HISTORICAL SKETCH. 

ginia, especially, for the conquest of the west. Bril- 
liant officers were sent over, Howe and Wolfe and 
Forbes, who with such men as Washington and Arm- 
strong among the continentals, accomplished great re- 
sults. With the latter were companies raised in York- 
Four companies of York county militia, part of twen- 
ty-seven hundred Pennsylvania militia, marched un- 
der General Forbes, and took part in the capture of 
Fort Duquesne, afterwards called Fort Pitt, now Pitts- 
burgh, after the distinguished friend of America, and 
secured the Ohio Valley to the English. 

America had by this time asserted her claim of leg- 
The islative independence of England, and those 

tion. measures had been proposed in Parliament 
which hastened on the overthrow of the whole colo- 
nial system of government. There was a union of 
the colonies for their own protection against the 
Prench, the origin of that more permanent union 
which resulted in the formation of the American Gov- 
ernment. William Penn had, in 1697, proposed an 
annual congress of all the provinces with power to 
regulate commerce, and Benjamin Franklin, in 1765, 
revived the great idea, when the British cabinet had 
determined on taxing America. Pennsylvania was 
taking its part in these events. The people were al- 
ready masters of the situation here. The Lieut. Gov- 
ernor named the Judges not the proprietaries. Sher- 
iffs and coroners were chosen by the people, and 
members of the General Assembly were elected by 
them, who were annually responsible to their consti- 
tuents. 



HISTORICAL SKETCH. 



39 



York was not idle in these times. A class of 
men appeared who played their parts nobly in the 
history of the great struggle for liberty, who tauoht 
the people, or rather guided them, for they already 
held a power not to be relinquished. Amono- these 
sniitii, ^^'^^ ^ "''^" ^^''"''^ ^^^^^ come to reside here, 
Mme?' ^vhose biography is intimately connected 
Clark, with her history — James Smith, for some time 
the only practising attorney in York. We can imao- 
ine how the beauty of the situation of Yorktown 
brought families to it, and young men of intelligence 
and enterprise seeking new places for the exercise 
of their talents. Among such was Thomas Hartley 
who eame to York from Reading at the age of eigh- 
teen years, commenced the study of the law under 
Samuel Johnston, and was admitted to the bar in 1 769. 
For some time he and Smith were the only practisino- 
lawyers in the county, Mr. Johnston being then, and 
ior some years after, prothonotary. In this last men- 
tioned year, Henry Miller moved to York from Read- 
ing, and was also student at law under Mr. Johnston; 
and soon after came another law student of his from 
Lancaster, John Clark. With such young men, and 
with families of the kind that we know lived in York 
and vicinity, there was no lack of society here. There 
has been a slight attempt to portray the private and 
social life ot York just previous to the Revolutionary 
war, 

Graydon in his ''Memoirs" tells us, that being a 
student at law, to enable him to pursue his studies 
without interruption, his uncle advised his spending 



40 HISTORICAL SKETCH. 

the approaching summer in Yorktown. Mr. Samuel 
Johnston, the prothonotary, was a particular friend, 
who had been in the practice of the law and had a 
very good library ; and tendered his books and ser- 
vices, and complimented him with a dinner. "It was 
in the spring of i 'jy^) that I was transferred to this 
pleasant and flourishing village." * '=" "There 
were several young men in the town, whose company 
served to relieve the dreariness of my solitude; for 
such it was compared with the scene from which I 
had removed. These, no doubt, Hartley and Clark 
and Miller, for the most part, (1811) are yet living 
generally known and respected. There was also in 
the place an oddity, who, tho' not to be classed with 
its young men, I sometimes fell in with. This was 
Mr. James Smith, the lawyer, then in considerable 
practice. He was probably between forty and fifty 
years of age, fond of his bottle, and young company, 
and possessed of an original species of drollery." 

He then describes with some minuteness some of 
the peculiarities of Mr. Smith in the way of jokes. 
One in particular practised upon Judge Steadman, of 
Philadelphia, a man of reading and erudition, who in 
a full display of his historical knowledge was set rav- 
ing by a monstrous anachronism. "Don't you re- 
member, Mr. Steadman, that terrible bloody battle 
which Alexander the crreat fouorht with the Russians 
at the Straits of Babelmandel?" "What, sir!" said 
Steadman, repeating with the most ineffable contempt, 
"which Alexander the ereat fougfht with the Russians! 
Where, mon, did you get your chronology?" "I think 



HISTORICAL SKETCH, 4I 

you will find It recorded, Mr. Steadman, in Thucydides 
or Herodotus." "'On another occasion, beino- asked 
for his authority for an enormous assertion, in which 
both space and time were fairly annihilated, with un- 
shaken gravity he replied, "I am pretty sure I have 
seen an account of it, Mr. Steadman, in a High Dutch 
Almanac printed at Aleepo, his drawling way of pro- 
nouncing Aleppo.'' Every one laughed, says Gray- 
don ; but the Judge who resided in Philadelphia, and 
was ignorant of Smith's character in this particular, 
thought him the object of the laughter, so all parties 
were pleased. 

James Smith was about ten years of age when he 
came from Ireland with his father, who settled west 
of the Susquehanna in what is now York county. On 
attaining manhood he studied law in Lancaster, then 
the county seat, and settled in York, about the year 
1760. He was chosen delegate to the state conven- 
tion in 1774, "on the propriety and expediency of ab- 
staining from the importation of goods from Eng- 
land." He was a member of the provincial council 
of 1775, and of the convention that formed th^ first 
constitution of Pennsylvania in 1776. While a mem- 
ber of that body he was chosen by it a member of 
the Continental Congress from Pennsylvania, taking 
his seat in time to sign the Declaration of Indepen- 
«,lence. This he was ready to do, having already ex- 
pressed himself, at York and in the constitutional con- 
vention, in papers drawn by him, in language and 
sentiments, similar almost in words to the great arti- 
cle itself. 



42 HISTORICAL SKETCH. 

We can imagine the young men Hartley and Mil- 
ler and Clark, in deep and earnest converse with their 
older friend, on the state of the colonies, and of the 
threatened encroachments of Great Britain on their 
rights. As day after day brought the news of new 
aggressions, how indignant they would become! How 
the news of the stamp act must have aroused them, 
and how they must have determined to guide the pub- 
lic opinion of their community in defence of liberty! 

It would seem that the expression of political sen- 
timents in public was not unusual in the rural districts 
of Pennsylvania. The public meeting and the pass- 
ing of resolutions were as common then as they are 
to-day. 

So when the news of the bold act of the Bostoni- 
ans in throwing the tea overboard in Boston Harbor 
reached here, the exultation and sympathy of the men 
of York expressed itself instantly in public meetings. 
Not in words only, but money was raised and provis- 
ions forwarded to their brethren of Massachusetts 
Bay, accompanied with a patriotic and sympathizing 
letter addressed to John Hancock and Thomas Gush- 
ing, the Boston committee. A meeting of the inhab- 
itants of the county was called for the 4th of July, 
1774, "to enter into such resolves as may be for the 
public good, and tend to restore the liberties of F3ri- 
tish America." 

"As early as December, i 774, a company was form- 
Companies ^^^ ^" ^^^^ towu ot York, the objcct of which 
Formed, ^y^^^ ^q niakc soldiers who would be well dis- 
ciplined for battle in case the disaffection then exist- 



HISTORICAL SKETCH. 



43 



ing towards England should proceed to open hostili- 
ties. The officers of this company were James Smith, 
captain, Thomas Hartly, firstlieutenant, David Green, 
and Henry Miller, ensign." This was the first militia 
company organized in Pennsylvania in opposition to 
the forces of Great Britain. The original manuscript 
of the constitution of a company entitled "the Inde- 
pendent Light Infantry company belonging to the 
first battalion of York county," with the signatures of 
all the officers and privates, is said to be still preserv 
ed. John Hay, a member of the convention which 
formed the first constitution of the state in 1776, was 
the first lieutenant of this company. A sword car- 
ried by him in the war is in the possession of a de- 
scendant of his residing in York. The names of all 
those who took part in the formation of companies 
cannot now be mentioned, but among the officers are 
some names familiar to us. Captains Deitch, Hahn 
and Bailey, Lieutenants Spangler, Billmyer and Lau- 
man and ensigns Luke Rouse and Jacob Barnitz. 

A company of riflemen was required to be raised 
by resolution of Congress. The spirit of the people 
was such that there was no trouble in recruiting it. — 
The officers were Captain Michael Doudel, Lieuten- 
ants Henry Miller, John Dill and John Watson. — 
The number of men was beyond the number fixed 
for the county, but Gen. Gates thought it improper 
to discharge any aad all were sent. This company 
of riflemen was the first that marched from Pennsyl- 
vania to Boston. They left here July i, 1775. We 
read of late in a sketch by J. Barnitz Bacon, in his 



44 HISTORICAL SKETCH. 

"Reminiscences of New York in the Olden Time," 
tiie following : 

"Presently, more drums — from the direction of Dey 
street, this time. It must be the General ! No ! it 
was only a rifle company from Pennsylvania on their 
way to Boston. Captain Uoudel's company from 
Yorktown, with Lieutenant Henry Miller in command 
— the first company from west of the Hudson — be- 
longing to Colonel Thompson's Regiment, afterwards 
Hand's, and bearing the first commission issued by 
Congress after Washington's. Yorktown offered so 
many men, that the young Lieutenant — he was only 
tvv'enty-four — chalked a very small nose on a barn- 
door. "I'll take only the men that can hit that nose 
at one hundred and fifty yards !" said he. "Take 
care of your nose. General Gage !" said the newspa- 
pers at the time. Both Yorktown and Lieutenant 
Miller afterwards became noted in Revolutionary 
history. A hundred rifles filled his ranks as they, too, 
marched on to Kingsbridge." 

It is impossible to convey any adequate idea, in a 
hasty sketch, of the alacrity and enthusiasm with which 
company after company was formed as they were 
called for. The counties of York and Cumberland 
were required to raise four companies for the form- 
ing of a regiment. It was enlisted for fifteen months 
and formed the iith of the Pennsylvania line, with 
Thomas Hartley as Colonel. A rifle company com- 
manded by Captain William McPherson marched to 
Philadelphia and was attached to Colonel Miles' rifle 
regiment. 

Five battalions of York county militia marched to 
New Jersey. Out of these five two because battal- 



HISTORICAL SKETCH. 45 

-pj^g ions of the Flying Camp, to which York county 

Flying furnished ncarlyonc thoLisand men. Col. Hen- 
ry Schlegel. of York county, with two other 
officers, was chosen to go to New Jersey to form the 
Flying Camp; which was a special corps established 
by resolution of Congress, consisting of three brig- 
ades. The Brio-adier General of the first brio-ade was 
fames Ewing of York county. His parents had set- 
tled in Hellam township. He is said to have been a 
lieutenant in Gen. Braddock's army, and to have been 
present at the disastrous slaughter. Gen, Ewing and 
his brigade are spoken of in high terms by General 
Washington in his despatches. The first regiment of 
his brigade was commanded by Colonel Swope, of 
York county. Of the second regiment the major was 
John Clark, Of him letters from Generals Washing- 
ington and Greene and others speak as standing 
"very high in the confidence and esteem of the Amer- 
ican commander in chief. He was employed during 
the war, in duties for which no one would have been 
selected who was not deemed true as steel." Another 
regiment of the Flying Camp was commanded by 
Colonel Robert McPherson. A son of his, Lieut- 
enant William McPherson, was taken prisoner at the 
battle of Long Island. Probably the same mentioned 
already, as captain of a rifle company, attached to Col- 
onel Miles' regiment, which was prominent in that 
battle. The McPhersons were from that part of the 
county afterwards formed into Adams county. The 
regiment of Colonel Swope suffered as severelyas any 
during the war. The company of Captain Graeff 



46 HISTORICAL SKETCH, 

was taken at the battle of Long Island, and but eigh- 
teen of the men returned to join the regiment. 

This regiment suffered most at Fort Washinoton 
Fort on the Hudson, Fourteen of its officers 

asiington ^y^^.^ taken at that place ; among them cap- 
tains Stake, Smyser and Dritt, The company of cap- 
tain Stake, the fourth company under Colonel Swope 
consisted, it is said, "mostly of spirited and high minded 
young men from the town of York and vicinity." Two 
York county men were wounded at Fort Washing- 
ton, Captain McCarter from the neighborhood 
of Hanover, twenty two-years of age, who died 
from the effects of his wound ; and Ensign Jacob 
Barnitz of Yorktown, who was made a prisoner, but 
who survived his wounds and returned home. 

Our soldiers after these disasters were with Gener- 
al Washington in his retreat across New Jersey. We 
do not lose sight of our first volunteers, or their gal- 
lant commander, now of higher rank. 

General Wilkinson in his memoirs says: "Major 

York Miller of Hand's Riflemen, was ordered by 
Soldiers. QQi^Q^2i.\ Washington to check the rapid 
movement of the enemy in pursuit of the American 
army, while retreating across the state of New Jersey. 
The order was so well executed, and the advance of 
a powerful enemy so embarrassed, that the American 
troops which afterward gained the independence of 
the country were preserved from an overthrow which 
would have proved the grave of our liberties,'' 

In all of the battles from the commencement of the 
war. throucrh the reverses and retreat of the American 



HISTORICAL SKETCH. 47 

army at this period, the soldiers from the county of 
York fought bravely and suffered severely. The 
American army appeared to be in a critical position, 
and dismay and despondency seemed to pervade the 
country. The following letter shows the spirit that 
existed here, where enlistments were somewhat sus- 
pended on account of the dark aspect of affairs. It 
is from the committee of York County to the com- 
mittee of safety in Philadelphia, dated December 31, 
1776: 

"In these times of Difficulty, several Gentlemen 
have exerted themselves much in the Grand Cause, 
Several Militia Companys have marched, more will 
march from this County, so as in the whole to compose 
at least a pretty good Battalion. 

The Gentlemen who deserve most from the pub- 
lick are, David Jameson, Hugh Denwoody, Charles 
Lukens, and Mr. George Eichelberger. They have 
been exceedingly useful. As most of the Companys 
who marched have chosen their officers, pro Tempore, 
an arrangement will be necessary, as to Field Offi- 
cers. We propose David Jameson Col,, Hugh Den- 
woody, Lt. Colonel, Charles Lukens, Major and 
George Eichelberger, Quarter Master of the York 
County Militia, who now march; It will be doing Jus- 
tice to merit, to make the appointm't, and we make, 
no Doubt, will be done by your Board. 

We congratulate you on the Success of the Amer- 
ican Arms at Trenton." 

David Jameson, mentioned in this letter, was a 
surgeon by profession, and had held a captain's com- 
mission in the French and Indian war, where he had 
seen arduous service. He was an active participant 
in the pubHc affairs of the county, and letters of his 



48 HISTORICAL SKETCH. 

appear in the archives of Pennsylvania. He had 
come from Scotland, about the year 1 740, in company 
with a friend, also a young surgeon. Dr. Hugh 
Mercer, afterwards renowned as General Mercer, of 
the continental army, who fell at Princeton. Instan- 
ces, among many others, of that enterprise which in- 
duced young men of the old world to seek homes in 
this new land. 

General Mercer commanded the flying camp to 
which so many of the York county soldiers were at- 
tached. He was a warm friend of Washington and 
was by his side in the retreat through New Jersey. — 
"What think you," said Washington to him, "if we 
should retreat to the back parts of Pennsylvania, 
would the Pennsylvanians support us ?" But occas- 
sion did not require him to try the back parts of 
Pennsylvania, which would have included York coun- 
ty, on the way to Virginia, and across the Alleghanies, 
where Washington contemplated retreat. 

On Christmas night, 1776, that ever memorable 
crossing of the Delaware was accomplished, which 
surprised and routed the British and Hessians at 
Trenton. The success referred to in the letter just 
quoted; a success which revived the hopes of the 
country. Soldiers from York county were there, and 
were also in the subsequent battles of Princeton, 
Brandywine, Germantown and Monmouth. 

The defeat of the American army at Brandywine 
The was followed by the occupation of Philadel- 

CongT^r^ phia by Lord Howe, on the 26th of Septem- 
ber, I ']'/']. Warned of the danger in time, Congress 



HISTORICAL SKETCH. 49 

adjourned from Philadelphia to Lancaster, and not 
feeling safe there, adjourned to York, in order that 
the Susquehanna should flow between them and the 
enemy. The continental congress met in the old 
court house, on the 30th of September, 1777, and 
continued in session here until the 27th of June, 

While congress was in session here, the news of the 
victor}' of General Stark, at Bennington, followed by 
the still more glorious news of the surrender of Bur- 
goyne to Gates, at Saratoga, was received, and con- 
trasted strongly with the disastrous condition of the 
army under Washington, after the well concerted but 
unsuccessful attack upon the enemy's army at Ger- 
mantown. Certain generals of the army and mem- 
bers of congress are supposed to have entered into a 
design, at this time, to displace Washington and put in 
command General Gates who was covered with glory^ 
and was the theme of eulogium on account of his re- 
cent triumphs, while Washington had gone into winter 
quarters at Valley Forge, with an army reduced, scant 
of provisions, with clothing worn out — so badly off for 
shoes that the footsteps of the men were tracked with 
blood. 

Appointed president of the Board of War, General 
Horatio Gates came to York in January, 1778, where 
^^'''''' ovations were paid to him as the conqueror 
of Burgoyne. A man of fine presence, courteous 
manners and social disposition he readily won his 
way to popularity. The name of Horatio Gates found 
a place in families and still lingers here. 



50 HISTORICAL SKETCH. 

The account of the occurrences at York, at this pe- 
riod, are related by General Wilkinson, A man not 
unknown to fame, having become subsequently, by 
seniority, commander in chief of the army of the 
United States ; but his fame somewhat tarnished 
by suspected complicity in the renowned con- 
spiracy of Aaron Burr. At the time in question, he 
was a major of the line, a member of General Gates' 
staff as adjutant general. He was sent by Gates to 
York, to bring to Congress the official report of the 
surrender of General Burgoyne and of the terms of 
the capitulation. He did not lay the documents be- 
fore congress until eighteen days after the surrender, 
when it was already known as well as the articles of 
the treaty. So that when it was proposed to vote 
him a sword, Dr. Witherspoon said: "I think ye'll 
better gie the lad a pair of spurs y His delay is ex- 
plained by himself in his memoirs. Congress passed 
a vote of thanks to Generals Gates and Stark and 
Arnold, directed that a gold medal be struck and pre 
sented to General Gates, and made Wilkinson a 
brigadier general by brevet. 

One part of the alleged scheme was to detach La 
T j^ Fayette from Washington, by appointing him 

Fayette. x.o the Command of an expedition for the in- 
vasion of Canada. LaFayette came to Yorktown, 
where Gates was holding what has been styled his 
court. A feast was given in his honor, and his re- 
ception was cordial. The faith and devotion of the 
gallant young French nobleman never faltered to- 
wards the man whom he so loved and honored. Ac- 



HISTORICAL SKETCH. 5 I 

cording to the custom of the day toasts were given, 
and he gave as his : "The commander-in-chief of the 
American armies." It is said that it was received 
without cheering-. 

While Colonel Wilkinson was on his way to York, 
he dined at Reading, with Lord Stirling and his staff. 
Being in a convivial mood he told the aid-de-camp of 
his lordship what had been written by General Con- 
way to General Gates in disparagement of General 
Washington. Lord Stirling communicated this to 
Washington, who let the parties know that he knew 
it, which occasioned great consternation among his 
enemies. Wilkinson being in fault became very sen- 
sitive. He considered his honor wounded by Gates, 
and by Lord Stirling, from both of whom he deter- 
mined to demand satisfaction. The affair with Gates 
as it occurred here in our town is worth relatinof as a 
matter of curious information. Accordingr to the ac- 
count of Wilkinson, as given by himself, he came to 
York, purposely arriving in the twilight to escape ob- 
servation, and found a willing friend to convey his 
challenge to Gates, The meeting was fixed at eight 
o'clock, in the morning, with pistols. The place was 
in the rear of the Episcopal church. At the appoint- 
ed time, Wilkinson and his second, having put their 
arms in order, were about to sally forth, when the 
second of the General met them and informed Wilk- 
inson that Gates desired to speak with him. He 
found Gates unarmed and alone, who disavowed 
any intention of injuring him, and Wilkinson's 
wounded honor was satisfied. The whole plot 



52 



HISTORICAL SKETCH. 



thus ended in personal questions of offended honor. 
It appeared by after developements that the move- 
ment, whatever it was, was not formidable ; and there 
was no sufficient evidence to prove any concerted 
plan. The censure of Washington's plans and poli- 
cy, and the opportune successes of Gates, placed the 
latter in the light of a supposed rival for the com- 
mand of the army. The calmness and self command 
of Washington never failed him ; and when the disas- 
trous loss of the battle of Camden called forth his 
personal sympathy, Washington and Gates again be- 
came friends. 

The congress sat with closed doors, and here they 
resumed the memorable debate on the first plan of 
union of the colonies and on the 15th of November, 
1777, adopted the Articles of Confederation. They 
disseminated news to the public by means of a press 
brought from Philadelphia, on which, also, they 
printed large quantities of continental money, some 
of which is said to have been found concealed 
here after the war was over. Resolutions were pas- 
sed in recognition of the brave foreigners of distinc- 
tion who aided our cause. Lafayette was recom- 
mended to the command of a division. A resolution 
of thanks was voted to Baron Steuben for his zeal in 
the cause of America, and Count Pulaski was author- 
ized to raise an independent corps of horse and foot; 
the horse to be armed with lances ; and some of it 
was recruited here. John Hancock resigned his po- 
sition as president of the continental congress, 
whilst holdino- Its session here, which occurred on 



HISTORICAL SKETCH. 53 

the 31st of October, 1777, having filled the office since 
May 24th, 1775; and Henry Laurens was elected in 
his place. Matthew Clarkson and John Clark were, 
on the 6th of January, 1 778, appointed auditors of the 
army under the command of General Washington. 

On the I ith oi June, 1778, Philip Livingston, a del- 
egate from the State of New York, and one of the 
signers of the Declaration of Independence, died while 
here, and was buried in the burying ground of the 
German Reformed church, where a monument of 
white marble, surmounted by an urn, was erected to 
his memory, with this inscription: 

Sacred 

To the lueiuory of the Honorable 

PHILIP LIVINGSTON, 

who died Jiiue 12, 1778, 

Aged 63 years, 

while attcudiug the Congress 

of the United States, at York 

Town, Peuna., as a Delegate from 

the State of New York. 

Eminently distinguished for 

his talents and rectitude, he deservedly 

enjoyed the confidence of his 

country, and tlie love and veneration 

of his friends and children. 

This monument, erected by 

his grandson, 
Stephen Van Renseleaer. 

James Smith lived to a good old age. having died 



54 HISTORICAL SKETCH, 

in the year 1806. He was buried in the Presbyterian 
church yard, where his tomb stone is readily discov- 
ered with this simple inscription : 
JAMES SMITH, 
One of the Signers of the 
Declaration of Independence, 
Died July 11th, 1806, 
Aged 93 years. 
Livingston's grave and his have recently been honor- 
ed by a demonstration worthy of the proud distinc- 
tion to which they are entitled by reason of the im- 
mortal document to which their names are appended, 
and worthy of those representatives of the rising 
generation, who placed the floral tributes upon their 
tombs. 

The Old Court House which became famous on 
TJieOid account of the session within its walls of the 
HouHe Continental Congress, was built in the cen- 
tre square in 1756. In the steeple of that old court 
house was hung the bell, which, according to the "His- 
tory of York county," came as a present from Queen 
Caroline of England, for the Episcopal church in York, 
about the year 1774. But Caroline, wife of George 
II of England, died in 1737. The generous donor 
was, in all probability, Caroline Matilda, sister of 
Czeorjje III, Oueen of Denmark, beino- the wife of 
Christian VII, a lady of unhappy history, who was 
imprisoned in 1772, and spent the last three years of 
her life in the Castle of Zell, Hanover, where she dis- 
tributed charities. She died in 1775. 

That bell for many years rung out the time for the 



HISTORICAL SKETCH. 55 

service of the Episcopal church, as well as for the 
meetings of the court. Were that old court house 
standing now, it would be considered an act of van- 
dalism to tear it down. That was done in Septem- 
ber, 1 841. As was remarked at the time, "not one 
brick should be touched, nor should the structure be 
removed one inch from its site, for the time would 
come when pilgrimages would be made to those 
buildinors so intimatelv associated with the toils and 
triumphs of the Revolution — that they would become 
the Meccas of Freedom, where her sons would con- 
gregate to rekindle in their bosoms the sacred flame 
of gratitude to the deliverers of their country, and of 
devotion to those principles which they had defended." 

On one side of the old court house was erected a 
building known as the state house, in which were the 
county offices, and what we have not now, a county 
miscellaneous library, consisting of a well selected 
collection of books which disappeared with the build- 
ing. On the other side was a market house of the 
antique pattern. The clock which was on the old 
court house was put on the Lutheran church steeple, 
and the fissure of a soldier with drawn sword, which 
surmounted the cupola, was placed on the Laurel en- 
gine house; these relics are still on these places. 

As the war progressed the enthusiasm at home to 
some extent abated, especially as the militia were 
constantly required for service. The young and ar- 
dent blood is always first to go forth and the stay at- 
homes are proud of them. But the first recruits are 
not enough to carry through a prolonged war, and 



56 HISTORICAL SKETCH. 

calls upon the militia must be answered. If they do 
not respond, a draft is ordered. So it was here, and 
some of the rural districts were ofiended. Lieutenant 
McAlister hesitated to enforccfa draft, and tendered 
his resignation more than once. At one time there 
was complaint of "the long tailed oath" required of 
absolute renunciation of all-^giance to all foreign po- 
tentates. By the exertions of McAlister and the 
sub-lieutenants the quotas were filled. The men of 
York performed their part well at home and on the 
battle field during the remaining trying years of the 
war, which lingered on with its terrible hardships to 
the American soldiers, with alternate victory and de- 
feat, in ever memorable battles, until the surrender 
of Lord Cornwallis to General Washington, at York- 
town, Virginia, on the 19th of October, ijSi, caused 
hostilities to cease, producing universal joy. This 
news was received at York with great rejoicings, 
business was suspended, bells were rung, and a great 
bonfire built. 

England did not carr)" on the war for the subjuga- 
tion of the i\merican colonies altogether with 

Hessians. i r i 11 

her own soldiers, but employed mercenaries, 
known to us as Hessians. The profession of a sol- 
dier has always been held honorable and is none the 
less so because he receives pay. He is under obli 
oration to give his life, if need be, to the o-overnment 
that employs him, and is authorized ^by the law of na- 
tions to take Hie in open war. It is not the pay of 
the individual soldier that makes him a mercenary ; 
it is the hire of his services by his sovereign to anoth- 



HISTORICAL SKETCH. 57 

er potentate. The price of such hire in the case of 
the Hessians wlio were engaged to fight our people 
was enormous. The landgrave of Hesse-Cassel kept 
up a splendid court on the price he received from the 
British government, s|;)me fifteen millions of dollars, 
for the hire of twenty thousandsoldiers and upwards. 

From time to time durino; the war larg-e numbers 
of prisoners, principally Hessians, were brought to 
York, under the escort of the militia. In individual 
instances, by permission of the council of safety or 
the board of war, prisoners were discharged on parole 
and allowed to take up a residence from choice ; and 
some Hessians settled in York county. 

By the convention made at the surrender of Bur- 
goyne to Gates, several thousand prisoners fell into 
the hands of the Americans, called the "convention 
prisoners," The militia of the several counties, Phil- 
adelphia, Bucks, Chester, Lancaster and York, were 
ordered to escort them through the limits of each 
county ; the York county militia being ordered to 
meet them at Wright's Ferry. But by subsequent 
arrangements these prisoners passed, under escort rl 
continental troops, through York and Hanove*- to 
Frederick, Maryland. Wherever the Hessia-u pris- 
oners passed, the people thronged to see these terri- 
ble beings, and they were hooted as hirelings to the 
trade of blood. Some of them were men of educa- 
tion and intelligence, who published accounts of their 
experience in the American war. They tell in par- 
ticular of the scoldings they received from the wo- 
men for coming to rob them of their liberty. General 






^ 



\ 



I 



58 HISTORICAL SKETCH. 

Washington had to cause notices to be put up through 
the country that they "were innocent of the war and 
had joined in it not of free will, but through compul- 
sion.'' 

In I 781, an act of Congress directed that the Brit- 
ish convention prisoners in Maryland and Virginia 
be removed to Yorktown, Pennsylvania, from fear of 
rescue by Cornwallis, and the York county militia 
were ordered out to guard them. It appears by a letter 
from President Reed to William Scott, lieutenant of 
this county, June 28, 1781, that these prisoners were 
ordered to be placed in huts near York. Four and 
a half miles east of town in Windsor township, about 
twenty acres of woodland were cleared and cultivat- 
ed by them, surrounded by a picket fence, fifteen 
feet high. The huts were mostly of stone. Some of 
the timber of the fence and stones of the huts yet re- 
^, main. While there a plague of some kind broke out 
\ ^ among them, and a large number, computed by some 
^\.at a thousand of them, died. Their graves are still 
vi'ilible marked with stones. Until within some thir- 
ty ycti-s past, a scaffold, consisting of two trees cut 
off, with a cross piece, was standing there. The story 
told is, that one night a party, supposed to be maraud- 
ers, came to the house of Wm. Morgan, (one of the 
family of that name said to have been the only English 
one that settled in Kreutz creek valley,) and called for 
something to eat. Morgan perceiving that they were 
Hessians, shut the door on them ; whereupon they 
fired through the door, wounding him and then left. 
A neighbor rode to camp and gave information of 




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HISTORICAL SKETCH. 59 

the occurrence to the officer in charge The roll 
being- called it was readily found out who were miss- 
ing ; and on the return of the party they were court 
martialed and hung. 

Near the place where these prisoners were hutted, 
is an old stone house, built by John Shultz and wife, 
in I 734, as appears upon the tablet built in it, as fol- 
lows : 

17ano34. 

HABICH. iOHNE SOH 

VLTZ. VND 

CRiSTiNA. SEINE. B. 

FKAV. dIeSES. 

HAVS BAVT. 

This is the first stone house erected in York county, 
now owned by Mrs. Susan Glatz, and still occupied 
as a dwelling. It was a tavern, and, it is said, that the 
continental congress, who had crossed the Susque- 
hanna atWright's and at Anderson's, (now Glatz's,) Fer- 
ries, on their way to Yorktown, stopped there to water 
their horses. They had saddles which greatly excited 
the curiosity of the persons gathered there, such 
things being- then unknown to them. 

We left the town of York with fifty buildings in the 
iioroiioh year 1751, and find toward the close of the 
oi \(>rk. ^y^j^^ jp, 1730, that there were two hundred 
and ninety houses built, hence we may estimate the 
population of the town at that period, at a thousand 
inhabitants. It was increasing rapidly in size. At 
tin- commencement of the new centur\- the popuia- 



6o HISTORICAL SKETCH. 

tion was two thousand five hundred ; so that at the 
time of its incorporation into a borough, on the 24th 
of September, 1787, the number of inhabitants must 
have been httle short of two thousand. 

The title of the corporation was the "The Burges- 
ses and Inhabitants of the Borough of York," which 
it still retains, and is well styled "ye ancient Borough 
of York.' Henry Miller was the first chief burgess, 
and James Smith was one of the assistant burgesses. 

In the meantime several other churches had been 
Churches, erected, in addition to the Lutheran and 
German Reformed already mentioned. A 
Moravian church had been built as early as 1756. A 
Roman Catholic church about 1779. The Protes- 
tant Episcopal church of St. John was founded in 
1769. The first church edifice was finished before 
the commencement of the revolutionary war. during 
which no service was held in it; but it was used* for 
some time as an arsenal. .Some years afterwards, in 
1810, when the church was being remodeled, on re- 
moving the pulpit several pounds of powder were 
found concealed under it. As this was known as the 
English church and the rector in charge was a mis- 
sionary from England, whose sentiments were not in 
accord with the people, their enmity was excited ; the 
rector Reverend Daniel Batwell, was thrown into 
prison, and the powder is supposed to have been put 
there with hostile intentions against him. In this 
church edifice the Presbyterian congregation wor- 
shipped for some years, in common with the mem- 
bers of the churc.i of England. The first Presbyter- 



HISTORICAL SKETCH. 6l 

ian church was built about the year 1789. At 
this time the first Methodist preacher had visited 
here, and that congregation had a place of pubhc 
worship. 

In 1777 Conrad Leatherman obtained a lot in the 
y^j.]. town of York, which he sold on the 28th of 
^Vcatiemv February, 1785, to the Protestant Episcopal 
church of vSt. John. Through the personal 
efforts of Rev. John Campbell, the rector, there 
were collected about five thousand dollars in Penn- 
sylvania and neighboring states, towards building an 
academy on the lot, and a parsonage house on a lot 
adjoining. The academy was built in 1787 and 'in- 
struction commenced the same year. When the 
Episcopal church was incorporated in 1787 the acad- 
emy was attached to it. Thomas Hartley was the first 
president, Robert Hetrick, secretary, Henry Miller, 
treasurer, and among the visitors was James Smith. 

The academy passed under the control of the 
state in 1 796. when a new corporation was created 
by the tide of the York County Academy ; under the 
successive trustees of which this ancient and classical 
institution has continued to the present time, with ex- 
cellent teachers in all its departments. 

The establishment of a form of o-overnment for this 
Coiistitiitioii municipality was almost contemporaneous 
[• sf with a much greater one, in which the citi- 

zens of York had an absorbing interest, the 
adoption of the Constitution of the United v'^tates, in 
convention, on the 17th of September, 1787. The peo- 
ple of York. alwaN's patriotic, showed their attach- 



62 . HISTORICAL SKETCH. 

ment to that constitution by a noted demonstration, 
on the 4th of July i 788, about the time of its ratifica- 
tions by a majority of the States of the Union, A 
procession was formed, in which as to day, all trades 
and professions were represented, and corresponding 
toasts were exhibited by the bearers of the flags. As 
an instance of which one of the best was presented 
by the coopers, namely : "May the new government 
prove a binding hoop to all the states, and never 
suffer them to o-q to staves." 

Thomas Hartley was the first member of congress 
Thomas under the new government, and continued 
Hartley. ^ member to the time of his death in 1800. 
The house in which this distinguished citizen of York 
resided has but recently been demolished. The 
The Trinity Reformed church having been erected in 
the rear of it, it was deemed necessary to remove the 
ancient building. In its day it was perhaps the finest 
structure in the town, with elaborate and antique carv- 
ings and mouldings, some of which, it is hoped, may 
be preserved, as relics of the past. Colonel Hartley 
was one of York's most useful and patriotic citizens. 
He died at the comparatively early age of fifty-two 
years, and was buried in the Episcopal church yard. 
The Reverend Dr. John Campbell delivered an elo- 
quent and appropriate eulogy at the grave of this 
soldier and statesman, who reflected honor upon the 
community he so ably represented, both on the bat- 
tle field and in the councils of the nation. 

An interesting question arose under the new gov- 



HISTORICAL SKETCH. 63 

ernment as to the site for the capital of the 
U. S. United States. A strong party in Congress 

at Wright's advocated the fixing the capital at Wright's 
erry. Ferry, on the Susquehanna, where Wrights- 

ville has since developed into a handsome borough. 
It had a narrow escape from becoming the capital of 
the country. Washington himself was in favor 
of it for its beauty and security. The members 
from New England and New York preferred it, and 
for many days it seemed to have a better chance than 
Harrisburg, Baltimore, New York, Germantown, or 
Philadelphia. There were earnest debates on the 
subject. The situation was much praised. One 
member remarked, not merely the soil, the water, and 
the "advantages of nature" were unsurpassed, but 
where "if honorable gentlemen were disposed to pay 
much attention to a dish offish, he could assure them 
their table miofht be furnished with fine and eood 
from the waters of the Susquehanna." It was con- 
tended that Wright had fixed his ferry at the point 
which would be the centre of population for ages yet 
to come. But Wright's Ferry lost its chance, and we 
too, may we not say, by what may be called the first 
instance of log rolling in the American congress. — 
The question of assuming the debts of the states was 
a subject that deeply affected congress and the ad- 
ministration. The southern members were of course 
for the Potomac. The Susquehanna triumphed in 
the House ; but the senate sent back the bill with 
Susquehanna stricken out and Germantown inserted. 
At last it was arranged that the southern members 



64 HISTORICAL SKETCH. 

should vote for the assumption of the state debts and 
so carry it; and in return Alexander Hamilton the 
Secretary of the Treasury, agreed to induce a few 
northern members to change their votes on the ques- 
tion of the capital, and so fix it upon the Potomac 
near Georgetown. 

Tradition tells of a visit of General Washington to 
G«neril York, during the period of the Revolutionary 
Washington -^yar, and places have been pointed out 
which are designated by the military term of his 
"head quarters." No record can be found to give 
us any information on the subject. That York was 
a place of sufficient importance to claim his presence 
here, has never been doubted by the oldest inhabi- 
tants who have transmitted to posterity the intelli- 
gence of his sojourn here for a time more or less 
brief. But at a later period there are those yet liv- 
ing who profess to have seen him. We know that 
he reviewed the troops assembled on his requisition, 
at Carlisle, in October, 1 794, and it is probable that 
at that time he made his appearance at York, at any 
rate, it has been too often asserted by persons that 
they themselves or their parents saw him to be now 
doubted. 

The occasion was the insurrection in the Western 
Whiske counties of Pennsylvania, on account of the 
Insurrection ^xcisc on spiHts distilled in the United 
States, commonly known as the Whiskey Insurrec- 
tion. A regiment of militia under the command of 
Colonel Daniel May, ana two companies of volun- 
teers, one commanded by Captain Andrew Johnston, 



HISTORICAL SKETCH. 65 

Charles Barnitz, first lieutenant, and John Grier, en- 
sign ; the other a rifle company commanded by Cap- 
tain James Ross, marched, with the rest of the Penn- 
sylvania troops, to meet the insurgents, who laid down 
their arms and dispersed at the approach of the army. 
Because no blood was shed, this insurrection was 
spoken of in a light manner, yet fifteen thousand 
troops were called for by the proclamation of the 
president, for its suppression. The Federalists be- 
lieved it to have had a deeper origin in schemes to 
overthrow the government; and it may be that but 
for the determined character of our first chief magis- 
trate, the combination then formed against the author- 
ity of the laws would have endangered the govern- 
ment. 

There is one noted instance of resistance to the ex 
cise tax in York county previous to this combination. 
In 1 786, a citizen of Manchester township, having refus- 
ed payment of his tax, the constable distrained a do- 
mestic animal of his andbrought itto York. Ontheday 
of sale a company of one hundred men marched from 
the township to attempt a rescue. They were met 
by citizens of York and an affray occurred, which was 
sufficient to alarm one of the justices, who it is rela- 
ted, holding to a corner with both hands exclaimed 
"I command tJiee in my name to keep peace." These 
insurgents were soon dispersed by some of the brav- 
er men who assembled to maintain the authority of 
the law, among whom were Henry Miller, John Hay 
and others. 

The first act of the nineteenth century affecting 



66 HISTORICAL SKETCH. 

. , the county of York was the erection of Adams 

Adams J 

County. county, on the 2 2ncl of January, in the year 
1800, taking off an area of 337,920 acres, and about 
12,000 people, still leaving- York county with fair pro- 
portions, with 589,440 acres, 921 square miles, and 
about 25,000 inhabitants. This separation is represent- 
ed by contemporary chronicles to have been the result 
of a prolonged and bitter contest with the western 
section of the county, commencing in the days of 
Richard McAlister and Hans Hamilton. The name 
of Adams at that period in our history, shows the po- 
litical predilections of the separatists. 

The people of the county of York have always been 
thoroughly a part of the American people — subject 
to the same party excitements from the days of Adams 
and Jefferson to those of Hayes and Tilden. Taking 
their part in the great political contests; and also 
their full part and share in the glory of the wars of 
the Republic. 

A war with Great Britain broke out In June, 1812, 
W'u- of resulting in great glory to the American arms, 
1812. on sea and land. Such as the celebrated na- 
val battles of the Constitution and Guerriere and of 
Lake Erie, on the water, and of Fort George, 
Lundy's Lane, North Point and New Orleans, on 
land. 

A fiag borne in the battle of Lake Erie is now 
in the possession of the widow of Commodore Elliott, 
residino- in this borouo-h. Elliott commanded the U. 
S. Friorate Niao-ara, in that brilliant entracrement, and 
for his gallant conduct was voted a gold medal by 



HISTORICAL SKETCH. 67 

conorress. It was from the Lawrence to the Niao-ara 
that the celebrated transfer of the flag, ^inscribed 
"Don't give up the ship," by Commodore Oh . er Haz- 
ard Perry, in the heat of the engagement, took place. 
Commodore Elliott subsequently commanded the far 
famed frig-ate Constitution. 

The war ot 1812 was opposed by the Federalists, 
but York County was Republican. The capture ot 
Washington city, on the 2 5h of August, 1814, by Gen 
eral Ross, and the burningof thecapitol,thepresident's 
house and other public buildings, caused the oppo- 
nents of the war to exult, but roused the patriots. 
When General Ross undertook the expedition against 
Baltimore, which he boasted he would make "his 
winter "quarters," and also that "with his command 
he could march where he pleased in Maryland," word 
came here of the danger to that city, and several 
companies were raised, ready to march to its defence, 

James Madison, the President of the United States, 
had issued a proclamation calling on the militia of 
the several states, and Simon Snyder, the Governor 
of Pennsylvania, had issued his order on the 26th of 
August, 1814, to have marched to Yorktowm, in the 
county of York, the place of rendezvous, five thou- 
sand men, Pennsylvania militia, on the 5th of Sep 
tember, under the command of General William 
Winder A large portion of these troops marched 
here and occupied the commons, awaiting orders. 

In the meantime, however, "The York Volunteers," 
nearly one hundred strong, composed principally of 
young men, "the flower of the countv," commanded 



68 HISTORICAL SKETCH. 

by Captain Michael H. Spangler, of the Borough of 
York, had already marched on the 29th of August, 
1 814, to Baltimore, provisioned by the citizens of the 
Borough, They were well disciplined and presented 
a fine appearance, and were attached to the fifth 
Maryland regiment. They marched with it to North 
Point, and fought with great gallantry in the battle of 
die I 2th of September, where the enemy were repuls- 
ed, and General Ross was killed. The York volun- 
teers received the thanks and commendations of the 
commanding General Strieker, and of the officers of 
the fifth Maryland regiment. Grafton Duvall and 
Henry Sleeger are the only survivors of this company. 

Two companies marched out of Hanover for Bal- 
timore, in September, and were attached to a Mary- 
land regiment participating in the battle of North 
Point — of one Frederick Metzgar was captain, John 
Immell, ist lieutenant, of the other, John Bair, captain 
and Henry Wirt, 1st lieutenant. These companies 
contained fifty to sixty men. 

Some years elapsed before any events of a nation- 
„, al character transpired, but there were some 

Flood of of local interest and importance. York has 

1817. . [ 

had its share of casualties by flood and fire, 
all of which have been duly chronicled. It is scarce- 
ly within the province of this sketch to take note of 
these, but one instance has become a part of history. 
A writer of the last century in describing a storm says: 
"It was one of those tempests which occur once in 
several centuries, and which by their extensive devas- 
tations, are chronicled to eternity ; for a storm that 



HISTORICAL SKETCH. 69 

signalizes its course with extraordinary destruction, 
becomes as worthy of celebration as a hero for the 
same reason." So there has been recorded a g-reat 
flood of the Codorus, in August, 1817. The rain had 
lasted but a few hours, from about two o'clock of the 
preceding night until about midday following. The 
water of the stream rose to an unusual height. The 
Spring Forge dam broke and others followed. The 
foamino-, roarincr torrent rolled throuo-h the streets of 
York like a mighty river, from a quarter to half a 
mile wide, and deep enough to float a man of war, 
carrying ruin and destruction in its mad course. — 
Houses we re carried off and many lives were lost. 
Few communities have ever suffered to such a de- 
gree in the loss of life and property as that caused 
by the memorable flood of 181 7. 

Storms of hail and snow, fires and riots, disturban- 
ces of the elements and by human commotions have 
been faithfully recorded as they occurred. It may be 
well here to mention the names of two citizens to 
whom we are indebted for such records, and whose 
memoranda and sketches should be preserved. Ja- 
cob Lehman, now deceased, and Lewis Miller, still 
living, to both of whom, we are indebted for incidents 
within their own time, as well as traditions noted 
down by them. 

The rage of one of the destructive elements is of 
Fire Constant occurrence. To stay its ravages, 

Companies, organizations were early formed in York. 
The first volunteer fire companies were bucket com- 
panies. The means of extinguishing fires was by ar- 



yO HISTORICAL SKETCH. 

ranging in two lines the people, and passing the fire 
buckets fi-ill up one line and empty down the other. 

"The Sun Fire Company of Yorktown," was or- 
ganized on the 3rd of April, 1772, for "the better pre- 
serving our own and fellow townsman's Houses, 
Goods and Effects from Fire." Each member was 
to supply "at his own proper expense, one Leathern 
Bucket, one Bag and one convenient Basket." One 
part of their duty was to save property and carry it 
in their bags and baskets to a place of safety and de- 
tail one of their members to watch it. Any member 
who failed to bring bucket, bag or basket on the oc- 
casion of a fire was fined one shilling. Among the 
members we find the familiar names of Henry Miller, 
John Hay, Michael Doudel, Baltzer Spangler and 
others. There was also a fire company in existence 
about the same time called the "Hand in Hand." 
Idle persons were not allowed about a fire; a com- 
mittee, appointed for the purpose, put all such in a 
row to pass buckets. There was what was called a 
"water engine" in York as early as August, 1772, 
and a house was built for it in 1773. Afterwards we 
hear oi 2i fii'e engine with a side lever gallery, sup- 
plied by means of buckets as hose was then unknown. 
The account of a great fire in 1797, taken from 
the "Pennsylvania Herald" of that date, mentions 
the fire engine, which "some by incessant labor 
kept in continual exercise." The ladies and chil • 
dren always assisted in the supplying of water, 
taking their places in the lines and passing the buckets. 

The Laurel Fire company has a record of its or- 



HISTORICAL SKETCH. 7 1 

ganization, on the 13th of February, 1790, and Hen- 
ry Miller was its first president. Each member fiir- 
nished his own bucket, on which was painted his name, 
with the design of a hand grasping a laurel wreath. 
The additional implements of hooks and ladders were 
also provided. It is alleged that a fire company cal- 
led the Union, was organized previous to 1 790, and 
on the nth of December, 181 6, changed its name to 
the York Vigilant Fire Company ; but it is said that 
the records of this company were swept away by the 
flood of 181 7. These organizations with those 
since formed, namely, the Union, on the 2Jst day of 
May, 1855, ^"<^ the Rescue, May, 1873, have 
given York an efficient fire department, which 
has been supplied with all the improvements in that 
branch of service. The steamers now in use, con- 
trast strongly the progress in manufactures and sci- 
ence, at the present day, with the primitive means of 
extinguishing fires. 

A supply of water to a community as large as 
York York, for the purpose just mentioned, as well 
Water ^g f^j. ^\^q domestic use of the inhabitants, 

Company. 

would naturally be a subject of concern. The 
York water company was organized, and a charter 
was approved February 8, 181 6. The first supply of 
water to the public, by means of hydrants, was in the 
following year. The first reservoir was of small ca- 
pacity, supplied altogether by springs from Erwin's 
farm ; the right having been purchased by the com- 
pany. The engine and water works to obtain sup- 
plies from the Codorus, were erected in 1850, and in 



72 HISTORICAL SKETCH. 

1852 the present large reservoir was constructed. 

One other local matter may be mentioned here, 
rpj^g For the purpose of establishing banking in- 

York Bank, stitutions, the legislature by the act of March 
21, 1814, divided the state into districts. The coun- 
ty of York was made one, and authorized to establish 
a bank, to be called the York Bank, which soon after 
went into operation. It was the only bank until 1850, 
when the York County Bank was chartered. There 
are now five National Banks, a Dime Savings Insti- 
tution, and the Banking House of Weiser, Son & 
Carl, to accommodate the financial wants of our peo- 
ple. 

Early in the year 1825, an event occurred which 
Visit of revived the patriotic feelings of the American 
LaFayette. people and thrilled them with emotions of 
gratitude. It was the visit of LaFayette to this coun- 
try and the scenes of his youthful heroism in behalf of 
liberty. On Saturday, the 29th of January, 1825, at 9 
o'clock, in the evening, he arrived in York and passed 
on to Harrisburg. He returned on Wednesday, the 
2nd of February, and "our people were gratified with 
an opportunity of giving to their early friend and pro- 
tector a reception, of pouring forth overflowing hearts 
of gratitude and welcome to him whose name is a pass- 
port to the heart of every American." He arrived at 4 
o'clock at the first turnpike gate, where he was met by 
the military and citizens. The general ascended a ba- 
rouche drawn by gray horses, and the procession en- 
tered the town, which was brilliantly illuminated and 
all the bells ringing, moved up George street to the 



HISTORICAL SKETCH. 73 

court house, and through the principal streets of the 
town to his place of lodging at McGrath's hotel. A 
dinner was there given to him at which one hundred 
o-entlenien sat down. To the following toast he 
responded: 

La Fayette — we love him as a man — hail him as a 
deliverer, revere him as a champion of Freedom, and 
welcome him as a guest. 

To which he gave: 

The town of York — the seat of the American 
union in our most gloomy times — May its citizens 
enjoy in the same proportion their share of American 
prosperity. 

He reviewed the military of the town the next day, 
,,.,., and then left for Baltimore. The military 

Military _ •' 

of York, companies at that time were, Captain Nes' 
Artillery, Captains Small, Barnitz, Frysinger and 
Stuck's Infantry, and Captain Smith's Rifle. 

The Americans generally are a military people, 
and ever ready to obey the maxim of Washington : 
"In time of peace prepare for war." The militia of 
Pennsylvania have always been the subject of appro- 
priate legislation, and the militia of York county were 
well organized in brigades, regiments and battalions, 
with field and commissioned officers of every grade. 
In order to keep up a martial spirit and teach disci- 
pline, the legislature by the act of July nth, 1822, 
required the militia to be trained and paraded in com- 
panies, on the first Monday of May, and in battalions 
on the second Monday of May, called the muster and 
battalion days, It did not matter at the muster what 



74 HISTORICAL SKETCH. 

arms were brought to the field, whether the broom- 
stick, or the cornstalk, or a combination of either with 
small fire arms, or the genuine musket. This militia 
training was continued, to the delectation of the ex- 
empt and of urchins, until it was abolished by law in 
1842. 

In the meantime the true military spirit of some 
citizens induced the organization of companies, uni 
formed, armed and equipped, who would have resent- 
ed the term militia, if applied to them. These were 
thoroughly exercised in the manual of arms and reg- 
imental maneuvres; not only exciting admiration, but 
constituting that great home growth of military power 
which made the American volunteer so efficient in 
war. The companies above named indicate the mil- 
itary spirit of York. 

The year following the visit of La Fayette was the 
semi-centennial anniversary of American independ- 
ence, and the 4th of July, 1826, was celebrated by a 
memorable military and civic demonstration; its en- 
thusiasm inspired by that visit, as well as by the at- 
tainment of fifty years of independence to the nation, 
and the yet recent results to the national glory in 
what was then called the late war, wherein our sol- 
diers were matched with veterans of European wars. 
The oration on the occasion was delivered by Hon, 
Charles A. Barnitz. 

There were men of enterprising, as well as martial 
Codorus spirit, in those days, and by them a charter 
Navigation, was procurcd. on the I 2th of April, 1825, for 
a slack water navigation company, which utilized the 



HISTORICAL SKETCH. 75 

river that runs through our town and county. The Co- 
dorus Navigation went into operation in 1833, and was 
in its day a great triumph of private enterprise. Im- 
mense arks of kmiber and coal and grain floated on its 
bosom from the Susquehanna to the doors of our cit- 
izens. One must have hved in those days to fully ap- 
preciate its success. That work was abandoned 
nearly twenty years ago, long since superseded by 
the mighty transportation power of the railway and 
locomotive. Still as one wanders alonof the banks of 
the romantic Codorus, and views the yet open canal, 
here and there, now put to other uses, it brings to mind 
the energy that surmounted the obstacles of nature, 
ere the appliance of those powers in nature herself 
came into use to aid the feeble arm of man, and above 
all causes us to admire the enterprise that would 
bring, away from the main channels of commerce, for 
the benefit of our own people, articles of merchandise 
otherwise obtained with much difficulty and cost. 

Mechanical progress was nut unknown here. The 
Tj, . railroad had been heard of and the power of 

Davis. steam was known. In these centennial times 
it is no small source of congratulation that the first loco- 
motive built in America, and now on exhibition at the 
great exposition at Philadelphia, in front of the Mary- 
land Building, was built at York, by a Yorker, in 
1829. It was constructed by Phineas Davis, who 
lived here and married here, and citizens are living 
now who knew him and the fact of the building 
by him of his locomotive engine. This locomotive 
was first run upon the Baltimore and Susquehanna 



76 HISTORICAL SKETCH. 

railroad. John Elger constructed about the same 
time an iron boat, the first of the kind, which, after 
successful experiment on the Codorus and Susque- 
hanna, was purchased and used abroad. 

Enterprise in the matter of railroads has been from 
the first a marked feature in the progress of our 
community. Early in the era of the introduction of 
railroads in this country, communication took place 
between York and Baltimore, by means of the Balti- 
more and Susquehanna and the York and Maryland 
Line railroads. The first regular train of cars arriv- 
ed in York from Baltimore, on Thursday, the 23d of 
August, 1838. Thus opening a means of communi- 
cation, business and social, with a large city, to the 
great advantage of our people. 

The relations between the people of Baltimore and 
York have been always of a most friendly character, 
and especially so after the defence of Baltimore in 
1 814. As soon as the facilities of the railroad were 
afforded, constant interchange of courtesir-s took 
place between the citizen soldiers of the two places, 
so marked for many years as to deserve especial 
mention. The 12th of September, the anniversary 
of the battle of North Point, as well as our national 
birth day, was celebrated with mutual rejoicings. 

During the year 1839, ^^^ York military paid a vis- 
it to Baltimore, which was returned by the Independ- 
ent Blues of that city, on the 4th of July, in the same 
year. The Baltimoreans considered themselves 
treated with so much kindness, attention and hospi- 
tality by the citizens of York, that they were prompt- 



HISTORICAL SKETCH. 77 

ed to make some acknowledgement ; and, on the 31st 
of August, 1839, the Independent Blues presented a 
splendid U. S. flag to the volunteer companies of 
York. That beautiful flag is now in the possession 
of General George Hay, and is at this moment sus- 
pended in front of his residence, almost in view of 
this assemblage. The material of the flag is of the 
finest silk ; the head of the staff is a spear of massive 
silver, elegantly chased, with two silver tassels. 
On the head is the following inscription : 

"Presented by the Independent Blues to the York 
Volunteers, August, 1839, as a mark of esteem for 
the unbounded hospitality extended to them during 
their visit, July 4, 1839." 

It was presented on the 31st of August in front of 
the White Hall hotel, in the presence of the military 
and a concourse of citizens, by a committee of the 
"Blues," and accepted on behalf of the soldiers by 
Hon. Charles A. Barriitz. The companies in York, 
at that time, were the Washington Artillerists, Cap- 
tain Upp, the Washington Blues, Captain Barnitz> 
the York Pa. Rifles, Captain Hay, and a company of 
horse, the Washington Troop, Captain Garretson. — 
The admirable bearing and drill of which companies 
many here present so well remember. 

The following year, 1840, was characterized 
throughout the Union, by one ot those seasons of in- 
tense political excitement, which has become mem- 
orable. The presidential campaign, as it was cal- 
led, was carried on with singular ardor and vivacity, 
with its log cabins, and hard cider, hickory poles and 



•jS HISTORICAL SKETCH. 

immense processions, A plan of electioneering- was 
then introduced which has now ceased. The times 
were hard and the country was flooded with paper 
money. Institutions of all kinds and individuals is- 
sued their shinplasters, wages were low, and as two 
dollars a day and roast beef were promised to all la- 
boring men, a revolution in political affairs followed as 
a matter of course. The minds of the people were 
absorbed in politics, and yet scarcely any of the ques- 
tions were of sufficient importance to agitate the peo- 
ple, and could have been readily settled but for the 
absurdity of making them party issues. The celebra- 
ted writer, De Toqueville, who visited this country 
about that time, speaks with surprise of the puerile 
subjects that agitated the public mind of America and 
excited such angry and bitter discussion in her legis- 
lative halls. He could not understand how such 
questions, as the rechartering of a national bank, and 
of the higher or lower rate of duties on articles of 
importation, could so engross the public attention 
and mould themselves into the very being ol the fed- 
eral government. Questions which a few statesmen 
who have studied political economy, could settle with 
benefit to the government and the people, by a prop- 
er observance of the laws of trade, which should gov- 
ern and not be controlled by legislation. So absorb- 
ed was the press of the country at that time, so full 
of tirades and party zeal, that very little attention was 
paid to real news or to the interests of literature. 

The newswa[)ers in York then were the Republi- 



HISTORICAL SKETCH. 79 

Newspapers ^^"' ^^^^ Gazette, (English and German,) and 
the Press. The Republican had been pub- 
lished under that name since 1830, succeeding a pa- 
per published from the same office called the York 
Recorder, commenced in 1800, which had succeeded 
by a change of name to the Pennsylvania Herald, the 
first number of which was issued in 1789. The York 
Gazette was first published in 181 5, and the German 
Gazette was first published in 1821. The first num- 
ber of the Democratic Press was issued in June, 1838. 
Since these there have been issued the York Penn- 
sylvanian on July 19, 1851, and the True Democrat 
in June, 1864. These are the weekly newspapers in 
the Borough, at the present time, and with the other 
papers in the county, the Hanover Gazette, (German) 
and Spectator and Citizen, and Herald, the Wrights- 
ville Star and Glen Rock Item, DillsburgEra, and two 
dailies in the borough, present as tair an exhibition of 
newspaper enterprise and editorial ability as can be 
found in any community. The York Daily was first 
issued on the 7th day of February, 1871, and has been 
continued since then with so much success, at least to 
the public, as to have become a daily want. The Even- 
ing Dispatch was first issued on the 29th day of May, 
1876, and promises to beasuccessful enterprise. There 
was a daily paper issued during the war, called the 
York Recorder, and was regularly published from the 
17th of June, 1 861, to the 20th of August, 1861. 

A list of the newspapers and periodicals, for they 
were many, published at various times in the Bor- 
ouoh and County, would be interesting, but it is suffi- 



8o HISTORICAL SKETCH. 

cient for this sketch to refer to a few pubHcations in 
order to show the Hterary efforts of our people. 

A monthly periodical called the Village Museum 
was of a high literary character, and in its original 
essays and selections would have done credit to any 
place. It was published first in the month of August, 
1819, by P. Hardt, then editor of the York Recorder, 
and continued for four years. 

The Theological Seminary, founded by the Synod 
of the German Reformed Church, was removed here 
in 1828. The principal professor of that institution, 
Rev. Lewis Mayer, D. D. edited a church magazine, 
distinguished for its ability. This seminary was re- 
moved to Mercersburo; where it became famous for 
its theology, and is now a part of Franklin and Mar- 
shall College, at Lancaster, 

In the year 1830, a publication called the Harbin- 
ger, was printed and edited by William O, Smith, at 
Shrewsbury, (a borough that had grown up within the 
township of that name,) for about three years, when it 
was removed to York, where it continued for some 
years. 

To return to politics we find that in the years 1840 
New and 1 84 1, as well as for some time previous, 

iiome. there was much party excitement at home, 
about local affairs. The erection of the new court 
house at a cost of upwards of one hundred thousand 
dollars was a subject of much animadversion towards 
the custodians of the public treasury at that time. 
But that great work went steadily on to completion, 
and on Monday the 26th day of August, 1841, (the 




THE NEW COURT HOUSE. 



H I STOR I CAL SKETCH. 8 I 

August Term,) was opened for the sitting- of the court. 
It is a substantial and handsome structure to have 
been erected in that day, sufficient in both particu- 
lars^ with slight enlargement which can be easily 
done, to continue permanently for the purposes for 
which it was erected. The steeple was put on the 
court house in 1847. 

An incident that may be noticed in the year 1841 
General ^""'^^ ^^^ removal of the remains of President 
Harrison. Harrison, passing through York on the wav 
to North Bend, under a large escort of military from 
Washington and Baltimore. The citizens of York 
manifested deep feeling on the occasion. The mili- 
tary and civic associations of all kinds joined the 
passing escort, the entire pageant was one of the 
most solemn character and is strongly impressed 
upon the minds of all who participated in it. on ac- 
count of the occasion itself, as well as the apprehend- 
ed mornentous political results of the untimely de- 
cease of the new president who held his office but 
one short month. 

On the 15th of July, 1844. there was a call for vol- 
Philada. unteers from York for the suppression of 
'"^^' the great Native American riot in Philadel- 
phia. The three companies of York already men- 
tioned, the Washington Artillerists, the Washington 
Blues, and York Pa Rifles, together with companies 
from the county, in all 3000 men, under the command 
of General A. C. Ramsay, marched as far as Wrights- 
ville but returned the same day. The report of the 
Auditor General, in 1845, gives the expense to the 



82 HISTORICAL SKETCH. 

State by the Philadelphia riots at ^45,252,72. The 
York County troops cost $7,367,50, and there was 
paid to the R. R. Co. for transportation $512,20. 

This adventure, brief as it was, is remarkable for 
the. expenseitoccasioned. Though our troops were not 
required to suppress the riot, there was bloodshed 
in Philadelphia before quiet was restored. It was not 
long, however, before the military power of the na- 
tion had to be tested. 

There have been many phases of American politics 
Mexican ^ud cvery presidential election has agitated 
"'^"''' the people with the discussion of new issues. 

Those who adhere to the old ones get behind the 
times. Four years after the election of General 
Harrison the absorbing questions that had so excited 
whigs and democrats were weakened in popular es- 
timation by events of national concern. The result 
of the election of 1844, quieted the issues preceding 
it, and the new administration of President Polk soon 
became involved in questions of a different character. 
Texas had declared independence in 1836, and was ac- 
knowledged an independent republic by the United 
States. That independence had been achieved by 
American settlers, so that it came asking for admis- 
sion at the first congress in the new administration 
and was made one of the states of the union in 1845. 
The year following found the government embroiled 
in a war with Mexico. Volunteers were asked for 
and all parts of the country ([uickly responded. 

York county furnished her proportion of brave men 
to carry the flag of the United States to the halls of the 



HISTORICAL SKETCH. 83 

Montezumas. Several volunteers left the borough 
of York for the Mexican war, who were attached to 
the first Pennsylvanian regiment under Colonel 
Francis M. Wynkoop, Lieutenant Colonel Samuel 
Black, in Company C. Captain William F. Small. 
There were nine of them and they participated in 
many bloody but victorious battles, under the great 
chieftain, General Winfield Scott, from Vera Cruz to 
the city of Mexico, through the batdes of Cerro 
Gordo, Churubusco, National Bridge, Molino del Rey, 
Chapultepec, Contreras, Huantla, where the renown- 
ed Captain Samuel Walker was killed, and at the 
siege of Puebla, where William Eurich one of their 
number was killed and Jacob Danner died. Peter 
Ahl Esq., is the only survivor of this band of brave 
men. Colonel Thomas A. Ziegle was one. The 
others were Albertus Welsh, Daniel Craver, William 
Patterson, Robert Patterson and Samuel Stair. 
Weirich Pentz was in the 4th Ohio, Colonel Brough, 
and David Hays was in one of the Ohio regiments. 

Edward Haviland was a member of the Philadel- 
phia Grays, Captain Scott, attached to the first Penn- 
sylvania volunteers. Colonel Albert C. Ramsay, a resi- 
dent lawyer of some distinction, commanded a regi- 
ment, in which were some men from York county ; 
it was the nth regiment of the line. George John- 
son a soldier from York in that I'egiment was killed 
at the battle of Molino del Rey. Theodore I). Coch- 
ran was a captain of voltigeurs attached to the same 
regiment. 

There were officers of the regular army from York 



84 HISTORICAL SKETCH. 

in the Mexican war. Major Granville O. Haller was 
captain of the 4th infantry. William B. Franklin, a 
graduate of West Point, of 1843, was ist lieutenant of 
topographical engineers. H. G. Gibson, a graduate 
of 1847, was 2d lieutenant of the3rdartillery. The offi- 
cers of the navy from York who served in that war, 
were George P. Welsh, Samuel R. Franklin and Wil- 
liam Gibson. 

In York and in the county there are several 
survivors of this notable war, the results of which 
have since been appreciated. It added to the Union 
immense tracts of territory and rich states, the gold- 
en land of California and the silver mines of Nevada, 
and opened for us that great transit across the conti- 
nent to the Pacific, with still more momentous politi- 
cal results to the government and nation. 

The Mexican war ended in 1848. But the politics 
and the wars of the United States do not impede the 
progress of the people at home. York has always 
kept pace with the times in public improvements, and 
all those needful municipal regulations and conveni- 
ences which belong to well built cities. Though not 
incorporated asa city, it has been virtually made one, in 
all but the name, by supplements to the original 
charter. 

The supply of conveniences has been afforded by 
York individual enterprise. To give light to our 
^^•^ people a supplv of eas was furnished to 

Company, i^ i ri J t> 

them on the first of January, 1850, by the 
York Gas Company, which had been incorporated 
on the 9th of February, 1849. 



HISTORICAL SKETCH. 85 

Charters for railroads had been procured. The 
Railroads. York and Cumberland Railroad, incorpora- 
ted as early as 1 846, had progressed to con- 
struction and was opened for travel in February, 
1 85 1, and in 1854 it was, by consolidation with the 
York and Maryland Line and the Baltimore and Sus- 
quehanna railroads, incorporated into the Northern 
Central Railway, one of the great commercial arteries. 

The Hanover Branch Railroad was incorporated in 
1847, ^"d w^s formally opened for business on the 
22d of October, 1852. This road has proved a very 
successful enterprise. The Gettysburg Railroad was 
subsequently built, in 1856, and these roads are now 
consolidated as the Hanover Junction, Hanover & 
Gettysburg Railroad. 

In the year 1851, an enterprise was started which 
A ricdi- ^^^ proved highly important and benefi- 
turai cial to the people of this county. Its found- 

Society. ^ ^ •' ^ 

ers say that "the field for beneficial opera- 
tions and influences was then rather uninviting, and 
the undertaking to establish a society with hopes of 
giving it permanency and success was somewhat of 
an adventure." The York County Agricultural So- 
ciety was duly organized on the 5th of January, 1852, 
and held its first exhibition on the commons in the 
month of October, 1853, and the second was held the 
October following. They were successful and the 
society in the meantime having purchased their own 
grounds, held their third annual exhibition there in 
the year 1856. These grounds cover an area of 
about fifteen acres, easily accessible to the throngs of 



86 HISTORICAL SKETCH. 

people who annually visit them. The buildings are 
well designed for their purposes, and all the im- 
provements are well calculated for the display and 
examination of the articles exhibited. 

We read in old chronicles of certain joyful institu- 
Ancient tions kuowu as fairs, A part of the charter 
of privileges from the proprietaries to the 
inhabitants of the town and county of York, was the 
grant of the privilege to "have and keep in said town 
two fairs in the year, the one of them to begin on the 
ninth day of June yearly, to be held in High street, 
and to continue that day and the day following ; and 
the other of the said fairs to be held, in the aforesaid 
place, on the second day of November, ever}^ year, 
and the next day after it, with all the liberties and 
customs to such fairs belonging or incident." The 
History of York says : "This charter was received as 
a high and peculiar blessing. Travelling dealers in 
small wares found themselves with punctual devotion, 
at their semi-annual congregations. But as the num- 
ber of stated merchants increased, our ancient and 
venerable institutions began to be shorn of their glory. 
Yet when in 1787, the town was erected into a bor- 
ough, the legislature particularly continued this priv- 
ilege of our fathers unto their children. But man- 
ners were changing ; one part of the community was 
growing more refined, and another more corrupted; 
fairs had degenerated from the primitive purity of 
former years, and became but a scene of a wild mer- 
riment or of a riotous commotion. At last on ac- 
count of the degeneracy of the times, the legislature 



HISTORICAL SKETCH. 8/ 

on the 29th of January, 1816, prohibited the holding 
of fairs within the borough of York, and declared 
such holding to be but a common nuisance. Yet so 
great is the inveteracy of ancient custom, the form- 
er stated days are even now (1834) but too punc- 
tually observed. A few years hence the observ- 
ance of these institutions will have ceased to our 
county ; those who succeed us, may, proud in their 
own belief, look upon these days as times of a rude 
and unpolished wilderness." 

Common parlance gives the designation of fairs 
to the annual exhibitions of the York County Agri- 
cultural Society. But the exhibits of industrial art 
and of articles of produce by that society are a won 
derful advance upon the fairs of our ancestors. — 
They draw crowds of people trom town and country; 
but it is to instruct and elevate them, and encourage 
and develop the agricultural resources and mechan- 
ical skill of the people. These agricultural fairs were 
interrupted during the years 1861, '62, '63 and '64, 
by the war, during which the grounds were occupied 
as a military camp. 

The immense acquisition of territory brought by 
The war ^^^ Mexican war, the admission of California 
^'■.^^^ as a state, and the question of the territorial 
powers of the great region of country com- 
prising Kansas and Nebraska, caused intense politi- 
cal excitement in the elections for some years, cul- 
minating in the attempted secession of certain states 
and the great war for the union. The events of that 
war are too recent for comment; but the part taken 



88 HISTORICAL SKETCH. 

by our people and what transpired here are a part of 
the history of York, which was marked as a point of 
hostile demonstrations. 

The news of the firing upon Fort Sumpter, which 
occurred on the 12th of April, 1861, followed by the 
proclamation of President Lincoln, on the 15th, call- 
ing for seventy-five thousand troops, aroused the 
patriotism of our people. Governor Curtin made a 
requisition upon the organized companies of Penn- 
sylvania, and the citizen soldiers of York, consisting 
of the Worth Infantry, Captain Thomas A. Ziegle, 
and the York Pa. Rifle, Captain George Hay, res- 
ponded unanimously to the call and obeyed with alac- 
rity the order of the governor. 

On the evening of Thursday, the i8th, in pursu- 
ance of a general call, the people of York assembled 
in great numbers in the court house, for the purpose 
of expressing their sense of the condition of the na- 
tional government, and to offer aid to those called into 
the service. John Evans, Esq., was called to the 
chair, and other prominent citizens were made offi- 
cers of the meeting. Patriotic resolutions were adopt- 
ed, and measures taken to provide means for the sup- 
port of the families of volunteers. The borough au- 
thorities appropriated one thousand dollars for this 
purpose, the commissioners were recommended to 
make an appropriation ot five thousand dollars, and 
committees were appointed to collect money by vol- 
untary subscription from our citizens, and over two 
thousand dollars were contributed. The union feel- 
ing in York was intensely strong. Flags were sus- 



HISTORICAL SKETCH. 89 

pended from the principal buildings, places of busi- 
ness and private residences, and poles were erected 
from which the stars and stripes floated proudly to 
the breeze. The ancient borough of York was not 
behind any of her neighbors in patriotism and zeal. 

Events thickened and aroused intense feeling. — 
The sixth Massachusetts regiment while passing 
through Baltimore, on the 19th was attacked by a 
mob and the passage of some of the cars obstructed. 
The soldiers who were obliged to form for the pur- 
pose of marching through the city, being assaulted 
with increased violence, fired upon the crowd. Two 
of the Massachusetts soldiers were killed and seven 
persons in the crowd, some rioters and some who 
were looking on. On that night a portion of the track 
of the Northern Central Railway was torn up between 
Cockeysville and Baltimore, and a number of the 
bridges on the road were set on fire and burned 
down, for the purpose of impeding the passage of 
troops from the north. 

The military companies from this place received 
orders on Saturday evening, the 20th, to hold them- 
selves in readiness to march, and at eleven o'clock at 
night they left in a special train, going towards Bal- 
timore, and wrre stationed in squads at the several 
bridges along the route of the road, and some at 
Cockeysville. Ten or twelve trains with troops pass- 
ed through York on Sunday, from early in the morn- 
ing until late at night, proceeding as far as Ashland 
and Cockeysville, concentrating some three thousand 
men at those points. But on Monday these several 



90 



HISTORICAL SKETCH. 



regiments returned to York and encamped on the 
fair orrounds. 

At the meeting of the court on Monday, the 2 2d, the 
president judge, Hon. Robert J. Fisher, in chargmg the 
grand jury, referred to the distracted state of the 
country, and urged upon them the necessity of pro- 
viding for the comfort and support of those who had 
so promptly obeyed their country's call. He stated 
that the citizens of York had subscribed several thou- 
sand dollars, and that the borouoh authorities had 
appropriated a thousand dollars, and recommended 
the grand jury to request the commissioners to make 
a liberal appropriation for the same purpose out of 
the county funds, and said that he had no doubt the 
appropriation would be legalized by the legislature. 
Several members of the bar also addressed the grand 
jury. The scene was a very impressive one. The 
grand jury the next day recommended that the com- 
missioners appropriate ten thousand dollars, which 
was promptly done. Hanover and Wrightsville 
made liberal appropriations, making about fifteen 
thousand dollars in all. The legislature subsequently 
ratified these proceedings. 

The troops which had passed through York to 
Cam Cockeysville on Saturday and Sunday, were 

Scott. ti-ie first, second and third regiments of Penn- 
sylvania volunteers, for the three months service, 
composed of organized companies from nearly all 
the cities and principal towns in the state, the mili- 
tary companies of Easton, Allentown, Reading, Har- 
risburg, Lancaster, Chambersburg, Gettysburg, Co- 



HISTORICAL SKETCHy 9 1 

lumbia, Bloomfield, West Chester, Bellefonte, Holli- 
daysburg, Altoona, Johnstown, East Liberty, and 
other places — some unattached — together with our 
own mihtary companies who were as early as any of 
them in the field. They came from comfortable 
homes and were unaccustomed to exposure and hard- 
ship. The commissary arrangements were not suf- 
ficient for so large a body of men suddenly thrown 
together, and they depended to some extent on vol- 
untary supplies from our own people. 

The hospitality of the citizens of York, on this oc- 
casion, extended to these new recruits, has frequent- 
ly been mentioned by them in complimentary terms. 
The encanapment here was for the purpose of in- 
struction and was called Camp Scott in honor of the 
veteran commander in chief of the United States ar- 
my. The town assumed a warlike appearance.-^ 
Other troops came on the 26th of April, the 12th 
and 13th regiments from Pittsburg arrived, and by 
the 7th of May there were five thousand five hundred 
men in camp here. In addition to these was ^Cap- 
tain Campbell's battery of twelve pieces of artillery. 

The 2nd regiment. Colonel Stumbaugh, of Cham- 
bersburg, had been organized on the 21st of 

2nd, T*. V. *" 

April.. The York Rifles, George Hay, cap- 
tain, John W. Schall, ist Lieutenant, and Jacob Em- 
mitt, jr., 2nd lieutenant, were attached to it here as 
company K. 

The material of which the i6th regiment was form- 
ed was also encamped on the fair crrounds 

16th P. V. . r c 1 11 -n 

tive companies were irom bchuylkill count^', 



92 HISTORICAL SKETCH. 

one from Mechanicsburg, Captain Dorsheimer's, the 
first company in the state that enlisted for three years, 
and four companies from York county. These were, 
company A (Worth Infantry), captain, John Hays, ist 
Heutenant, Solomon Myers, 2nd lieutenant, John M. 
Deitch ; company F, (Marion Rifles of Hanover), 
captain, Horatio Gates Myers, ist lieutenant, Joseph 
Renaut, 2nd lieutenant, Jacob W. Bender, company 
G, (Hanover Infantry), captain, Cyrus Diller, istlieu- 
tenanant Henry Morningstar, 2nd lieutenantJosephS, 
Jenkins; company H, (York Voltiguers), captain, The- 
odore D. Cochran, ist lieutenant, Michael Gallagher, 
2nd lieutenant, Andrew D. Yocum. The regiment was 
organized at Camp Curtinon the 3rd of May, by the se- 
lection of Thomas A. Ziegle as colonel. A. H. Glatz 
was made quarter master and Charles Garretson, 
assistant quarter master. 

The regfiments here were all ordered to Chambers- 
burg and left about the first of June, with every dem- 
onstration cf encouragement, amid cheers and wav- 
ing of handkerchiefs — the Rifles leaving with their 
regiment ; but the i6th remained for a few days. — 
This regiment had already acquired great proficiency 
of drill under the care of its accomplished comman- 
der. On Saturday, the 8th of June, it marched into 
town to take its departure for the seat, of war. In 
the morning a flag was presented to the regiment by 
the ladies of York. A perfect storm of flowers fell 
upon the soldiers as they marched through the streets, 
every one had a bouquet in his musket. 

The 1 6th was in the brigade of Colonel Miles, U. 



HISTORICAL SKETCH. 93 

S. A., I St division, and the 2nd regiment was in a 
brigade of the 2nd division, of the army of General 
Patterson in the campaign of the valley of the Shen- 
andoah. They moved from Chambersburg to Ha- 
gerstown and Williamsport. At the latter place, 
Albertus Welsh died on the 27th of June, the first 
soldier from York who died in the war. He was a 
member of the Worth Infantry, and as already men- 
tioned was one of the nine veterans from here in the 
war with Mexico. The Potomac was crossed on the 
2nd of July by fording it, and an advance made to 
Martinsburg, arriving about the middle of July at 
Bunker Hill, driving in Johnston's advance guard. 
The regiment then made a forced march towards 
Harper's Ferry, the enemy's pickets retreating before 
them and encamped at Charlestown, on the 1 7th of 
Jufte. They were constantly threatened with attack 
but no action took place. When their term of service 
expired the 2d and i6th regiments returned to Har- 
risburg and were mustered out. The Worth Infan- 
try and York Rifles arrived home on the 27th of July, 
where they were welcomed by the ringing of bells, 
firing of cannon, speeches and a banquet. The Vol- 
tiguers arrived home on the 2d of August, their 
commander, T. D. Cochran, was subsequently ap- 
pointed a captain in the regular army. Captain H. 
G. Myers, of the Marion Rifles, had been left ill at 
Hagerstown, where he died on the 8th of August. — 
Thomas Brannon, a member of his company, died at 
the same place, on the 17th of July. 

Thus ended the campaign of the three months men. 



94 HISTORICAL SKETCH. 

Though our soldiers were not engaged in battle, and 
we were glad to see them home safe and sound, 
events showed that they might have been. The de- 
monstrations of Johnston in the neighborhood of 
Harper's Ferry were only feints, as was proved by 
his opportune arrival on the battle field of Bull Run, 
on Sunday, the 21st of }uly. Instead of the army of 
General Patterson engaging him and preventing him 
from reinforcing Beauregard, he was permitted to 
retire with all the appearance of a retreat. The 
grreat embarrassment under which General Patterson 
labored, and perhaps an altogether sufficient excuse 
for him, is found in the fact of the expiration of the 
term of enlistment of so many of his men just at the 
time of that battle, which after all, some have consid- 
ered a Providential reverse. 

There had already been a call on the part of the 
eovernment for men to serve for three years 

lst& 12th ^ , ^, 1 . 

Penn'a. uuless soouer discharged. The 30th regi- 
ment of Pennsylvania volunteers, otherwise 
known as the First regiment of the Pennsylvania 
Reserve Corps, organized on the 9th of June, 1861, 
at Camp Wayne, Chester county, was represented by 
company D, recruited in Lancaster and York coun- 
ties. The 41st regiment, the 12th Reserves, was 
first raised for the three months service. Samuel N. 
Bailey, of York county, was made lieutenant colonel. 
Company G., Captain Charles W. Diven, afterwards 
major, was recruited in York county. To enumerate 
the battles of this renowned corps would be to relate 
die greater part of the history of the war. It is suf- 



HISTORICAL SKETCH. 95 

ficient to say that York county had men in the Penn- 
sylvania Reserves. 

The 43rd regiment, known as the ist Pennsylva- 
ist Penn'a. nia Artillery, was formed under the call for 
Artillery, volunteers of 13th April, 1861. One com- 
pany was recruited in York by Alfred E. Lewis, 
who at the organization of the regiment was made 
senior major. The colonel was Charles T. Campbell, 
who, it will be remembered, was here with a battery 
during the encampment of troops on the fair grounds. 
He had enlisted twenty or more men here who were 
attached to battery A, commanded by Captain East- 
on, which performed gallant service at Drainesville, 
and Gaines' Mill, where Captain Easton was killed. 
The other company recruited here became battery E, 
Captain Thomas G. Orwig, and served in the Penin- 
.sular campaign under McClellan, and in the army of 
the James, rendering valuable service at Drury's 
Bluff and Fort Harrison, and at the siege of Peters- 
burg and Richmond. It was the first battery that en- 
tered the capital, reaching there before the enemy's 
flag was pulled down and hastening the retreat of the 
vanguard of the enemy who had intended to fire, the 
city. 

Two companies of infantry for three year's ser 
^^ u T, ^^ vice were recruited in York county early 
in 1 861. One in York by H. Clay Mclntyre, 
and the other in Hanover by Cyrus Diller, immedia- 
tely after his return from the three months service. 
These companies were attached to the 76th regiment, 
which was raised under a special order of the secretary 



96 HISTORICAL SKETCH. 

of war, and was known as the Keystone Zouaves, John 
M. Power of Cambria county, colonel. Charles Gar- 
ettson of York was made quartermaster, who, while 
serving with it, was appointed a captain in the regu- 
lar army. The captains of Company D were suc- 
cessively, Cyrus Diller, afterwards major, William S. 
Diller and Charles L. Bittengei; of company I, H. 
Clay Mclntyre, Jacob J. Young, Frank J. Magee, and 
Harrison Stair. 

On the 1 8th of November, 1861, the regiment re- 
ceived its colors from the hands of Governor Curtin, 
and proceeded to Fortress Monroe, sailed from there 
to Hilton Head, assisted in taking Fort Pulaski at 
the mouth of the Savannah River, participated in the 
attack on Charleston under General Wright, and 
engaged the enemy with heavy loss in an expedition 
to sever communication between Charleston and Sa- 
vannah. On the 6th of July, 1863, it moved to Morris 
Island, and on the loth it took part in the memorable 
assault on Fort Wagner, which it charged in gallant 
style. They received the order to charge as the 
flash of the artillery fire was seen, knelt and permit- 
ted the discharge of the guns to pass over them, 
then started forward with a yell. The ranks were 
thinned at every discharge. The moat was reached 
and crossed, and many fell on the parapet beyond, 
130 men and five officers were left behind. A sec- 
ond assault took place on the i8th of July, with a 
similar result. Frank J, Magee acted as aid to Gen- 
eral Strong in the engagement. Company I went 
in with thirty-six men and but twelve escaped. — 



HISTORICAL SKETCH. 97 

Twelve regiments were afterwards ordered to take 
the fort by storm, but were repulsed with great loss. 
Fort Wagner was a heavy sand fort, bomb proof, cov- 
ering several acres. It was ultimately demolished 
after a fierce cannonading of fifty days duration, 
when it was discovered that it had been abandoned 
by the enemy. This regiment afterwards fought at 
Drury's Bluff, where captain J. J. Young of company 
I was killed, and was with the loth corps, at Cold Har- 
bor, and under General Terry, to whom Capt. Magee 
wasaid-de-camp,took part in the capture of Fort Fish- 
er, in January, 1865. It was disbanded at Harrisburg, 
July 23, 1865, after one of the longest terms of service 
in the war. 

After the departure of the regiments quartered 
g„ , p y here a company was organized by Captain 
James A. Stahle, called the Ellsworth Zou- 
aves, after the brave but ill-fated officer of that name. 
This company became company A of the 87th regi- 
ment. Captain George Hay immediately after the 
return ot the Rifles on the 19th of August, 1861, re- 
ceived a commission as colonel. The project orig- 
inally was the raising of a regiment for the purpose 
of guarding the Northern Central Railway, in relief of 
other regiments recruited for the war. By the 12th 
of September there were five companies mustered 
in. John W. Schall was made lieutenant colonel and 
Charles H. Buehler, major. Eight of the companies 
were from York county and two from Adams. The 
officers commanding this regiment successively were 
Colonels George Hay, John \V. Schall and James 



98 HISTORICAL SKETCH. 

Tearney, lieutenant colonel, James A. Stable, ma- 
jor, Noah G. Ruhl, adjutant, Jacob Emmitt, Jr. 
Company A, captains, John Fahs, James Tearney, 
Geo. J. Chalfant. Company B, captains, Jacob Det- 
weiler, Lewis Maish, Zeph. E. Hersh. Company C, 
Andrew J. Fulton, Mu/ray S. Cross, Findlay S. Thom- 
as. Company D, James H. Blasser, Edgar M. Rubl. 
Company E, Solomon Myers, Charles J. Fox. Com- 
pany F, Wm. J. Martin, James Adair. Company G, 
V. C. S. Eckert, H. Morningstar. Company I, Thad- 
deus S. Pfeiffer, Wm. H. Lanius. Company H, Ross 
L. Harman, Wells A. Farrah. Company K, John 
Albright. 

The first duty assigned them was the guarding of 
the railroad, relieving the 20th Indiana. On the 28th 
of May, 1862, the regiment was moved to Baltimore, 
and thence to West Virginia, and was kept actively 
employed and moving from point to point, under 
great fatigue and exposure, until it went into winter 
quarters with General Milroy's division at Winches- 
ter, about the ist of January, 1863. Here they per- 
formed picket duty during the winter under very se- 
vere exposure. 

In May, 1863, by the resignation of Colonel Hay, 
John W. Schall became colonel, James A. Stable, 
lieutenant colonel and Noah G. Ruhl, major. Ma- 
jor Buehler was made colonel of the 1 66th. 

If the army of General Patterson in 1861 ought to 
have engaged the enemy, it may be said that the 
command of General Milroy, in 1863, ought not to 
have hazarded an engagement. He was over san- 



HISTORICAL SKETCH. 99 

gulne of holding his position, and by the consent of 
General Schenck, disobeyed an order to retreat. — 
The advance of General Lee's forces for the invasion 
of the North, flushed with success, could not be check- 
ed by his comparatively small force. 

On the 1 2th of June, 1863, the first of a series of 
battles was fought by the 87th, at Middletown, ten 
miles distant from Winchester, with the advance 
guard of Ewell's army, and on the 13th and 14th 
they behaved with great gallantry in the battle of 
Winchester, On the 14th a brilliant charge was 
made by it at Carters woods, in which Colonel Schall 
had a horse shot under him. Captain French and 
Lieutenant Slothower of company H. were killed. — 
The regiment joined the army of the Potomac in Ju- 
ly 1863, and was attached to the 3d corps, General 
French, and was in the battles of Manasses Gap, 
Bealton Station, Kelley's Ford, Brandy Station, Lo- 
cust Grove, and Mine Run. 

Afterwards assigned to the 6th Corps, General 
Hancock, it was in the battles of the Wilderness, 
and at Cold Harbor where Colonel Schall was 
wounded and Captain Pfelffer was killed, and the 
repfiment sustained a loss in killed and wounded of 
nearly a third of its strength. 

On the 6th of July, the battle of Monocacy was 
fought against superior numbers, the loss of the 
regiment being greater than in any other battle. — 
Among those who lost their lives at this battle were 
Adjutant Martin and Lieutenants Haak, Dietrich, 
Spangler and Waltemeyer. In September the regi- 



lOO HISTORICAL SKETCH. 

ment was with the army of Sheridan at the battle of 
Opequon, where the enemy were defeated, and on 
the 2 2d at Fisher's Hill where he was a^ain routed. 
The next day the term of service expired and the 
remnant of the reo"iment returned home arrivine at 
York on the 27th of September, 1864, where a recep- 
tion was awaiting them — their arrival announced by 
the ring-ing of bells. The old flag which they bore 
through all their battles was carried in the proces- 
sion torn in shreds. Few regiments saw more ac- 
tive service and work or suffered more. 

The veterans who had re-enlisted and the new re- 
cruits who remained at the seat of war, were consol- 
idated into a battalion of five companies, under com- 
mand of Captain Edgar M. Ruhl, who was killed 
while gallantly leading them in the battle of Cedar 
Creek, October 19th, 1864. The regiment being re- 
cruited to its full strength, Captain Tearney was com- 
missioned colonel, ^and it participated in the charge 
upon the works before Petersburg, where Lieutenants 
Keasey and Nickle were killed. It was mustered 
out on the 29th of June 1865. 

After his return from the three month's service 
107th Colonel Thomas A. Ziegle received author- 
^- ^ • ity to recruit a regiment. One of the most 
experienced and accomplished volunteer officers in 
the service he assisted in the organization of troops 
at Harrisburg, and on the 5th of March, 1862, was 
given the commandof the 107th. Company A, Cap- 
tain Jacob Dorsheimer, had volunteers from York 
county— Oliver P. Stair, ist lieutenant, George C. 



HISTORICAL SKETCH. lOI 

Stair, 2d lieutenant. On Sunday, the 9th of March, 
the regiment passed through York, for the seat of 
war, moved to Washington, and on the 2d of April 
crossed the Potomac, and was assigned to Duryea's 
brigade, Ord's division, of McDowell's corps. After 
the defeat of Fremont and Banks by Jackson in the 
Shenandoah Valley, the regiment reached Front 
Royal by forced march, on the istofjune, where 
Jackson had retreated. The regiment encamped at 
different places and while near Warrenton, on the 
morning of the i6th of July, Colonel Ziegle died. — 
The whole regiment were devotedly attached to him 
and he was regarded as one of the most efficient of- 
ficers in the brigade. He had been identified with 
the military of York for so many years, that his ca- 
reer was regarded with expectations of unusual suc- 
cess. He has already been mentioned as one of the 
volunteers in the Mexican war from York, where he 
had displayed remarkable coolness and bravery, and 
became captain of his company. Immediately after 
that war he raised the military company known as 
the Worth Infantry, whose discipline and drill were 
not excelled by any corps in the Union. The Worth 
Infantry was the equal in their peculiar drill of the 
gallant Ellsworth's company of Zouaves. His readi- ' 
ness and that of his company on the breaking out of 
the war for the Union, their services, the organization 
of the I 6th regiment and its service have already been 
mentioned. His remains were brought home and 
were interred with impressive obsequies in Prospect 
Hill Cemetery, on the 20th of July, 1862. 



I02 HISTORICAL SKETCH. 

The 107th regunent became part of the army un- 
der General Pope and was first under fire at Cedar 
Mountain, on the 9th of August, 1862, and was in the 
second battle of Bull Run, and at Chantilly, South 
Mountain and Antietam. In October, 1862, it took 
position in General Franklin's grand division and was 
at Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville. It was in 
the first corps, General Reynolds, at Gettysburg, en- 
gaged the first day on Seminary Ridge, and on the 
3rd to the right of Cemetery Hill, In February, 1864, 
nearly the entire regiment re-enlisted, and after the 
veteran furlough, was with Grant in his movement 
across the James, heavily engaged, and before Pe- 
tersburg. At Weldon station. Lieutenant George C, 
Stair was captured and with other officers made his 
escape through the enemy's lines. Oliver P. Stair 
was promoted to captain, and made brevet Major. — 
James Crimmons was wounded at Antietam, taken 
prisoner at Gettysburg and Weldon station, and was 
made a first lieutenant in July, 1865. The regiment 
was mustered out on the 13th of July, 1865. 

In the summer of 1862, a company was raised in 
130th York, by Colonel Levi Maish, and about the 
P- V. same time companies by Captains Hamilton 
Glessner and Lewis Small, and a company in Hano- 
ver by Captain Joseph S. Jenkins, which were mus- 
tered into the service at Harrisburg, about the mid- 
dle of August. These, jwith five companies from 
Cumberland county, and some recruits from other 
counties, were formed into the 130th regiment, Hen- 
ry J. Zinn of Cumberland, colonel, and Levi Maish of 



^ HISTORICAL SKETCH. IO3 

York^ lieutenant colonel, and John Lee, of Cumber- 
land, major. Company B, Captain Glessner, lieuten- 
ants, William H. Tomes, Henry Reisinger; company 
C, Captain Jenkins, lieutenants, Benj. F. Myers, Wm. 
Bossier; company I, Captain Small, lieutenants, D. 
Wilson Grove, Franklin G. Torbet, Jere Oliver; com- 
pany K, Captains Maish, David Z. Seipe, lieutenants, 
James Lece, John J. Frick, The regiment proceed- 
ed at once to Washington and was moved across the 
Potomac. After the retreat of Pope it was assigned 
in September to French's division of Sumner's corps, 
and on the i6th, but one month after its formation, 
was in front of the enemy at Antietam, in the center. 

The 1 30th were posted, on the 1 7th, upon the crest 
of a hill with a field of corn in front, and the enemy 
lay at the further edge behind a stone wall. Com- 
pany K was one hundred yards from where the ene- 
my lay in the rifle pits. The regiment held this ex- 
posed position for hours. "The shot and shell flew 
like heavy hail and the men became deaf from the 
roar of musketry and^ cannon." General French 
said: "The conduct of the new regiments must take 
a prominent place in the history of this great battle. 
There never was such material in any army." The 
officers from York county wounded, were Colonel 
Maish, Captain, afterwards Major Jenkins, and Lieu- 
tenants Seipe and Tomes. Major Jenkins after- 
wards was attached to the 184th regiment and was 
killed in November, 1864, in front of Petersburg. 

At daylight, on the i ith of December, the regiment 
moved to within sight of the spires of Fredericksburg, 



I04 HISTORICAL SKETCH. 

at night, assisted in laying" a pontoon bridge opposite 
the upper end of the city, and on the following morn- 
ing crossed with the division and bivouacked in the 
streets of the city, part of which was still burning, and 
at night occupied the ruins of a large brick building 
on Caroline street. The preat battle beean on the 
morning of the 13th by the firing of the artillery on 
both sides, and when the infantry was put in motion, 
the division of General French was in advance, which 
was exposed to a terrific cross fire of shot and shell, 
but pressed on with broken and thinned ranks, until 
it was compelled to fall back Among the killed 
were Colonel Zinn, commandinof die recriment, and 
Lieutenant Torbet, of this county. 

Levi Maish was promoted to colonel on the 3rd of 
February, 1863. When the command of the army 
devolved upon General Hooker, the regiment was 
moved to Chancellorsville, and it was enoao-ed in the 
furious battle of the 3rd of May, 1863, where Colonel 
Maish was ag-ain wounded. 

On the 1 2th of May, the regiment was relieved 
from further duty. The special order of Major 
General French relieving the 130th and 132nd, said: 
"The General Commanding the division takes pleas- 
ure in promulgating, in orders, their gallantry, soldier- 
like bearing and efficiency, during their entire term 
of service." And after referrinor to the oreat battles in 
which they had been engaged, said: " Soldiers you re- 
turn to your native state which has received luster 
from your achievements, and by your devotion to 
your country's cause. This army and the division 



HISTORICAL SKETCH. IO5 

to which you are attached, although they lose you, 
will always retain and cherish the credit which your 
military bearing on all occasions reflected on them." 

On the announcement of their return, a town 
meeting was held for their reception, and on Satur- 
day, the 23rd of May, 1863, they received a handsome 
and hearty welcome. The bells were rung, business 
suspended, a procession formed under a military and 
civic escort to the U. S. Hospital, where a collation 
was served by the Ladies' Aid Society, and speeches 
of welcome were made and responded to by the Col- 
onel, in praise of the bravery of his men in their great 
battles. 

In all great wars, as was remarked in noting the 
events of the Revolution, the first volunteers 

Ihe 

Draft. are not sufficient to the conduct of a prolong- 
ed war, and especially in the recent war, carried on 
upon such an immense scale, a draft was necessary. 
On two occasions there was a draft in York, on the 
1 6th of October, 1862, and in August, 1863. There 
were other calls, and partial drafts, but, generally, on 
the announcement of the quota for any district it was 
filled either by volunteers or by means of subscriptions 
for the purpose. Many took their chances of the 
draft and went in person when drawn. It is the ex- 
perience of army officers that men raised by this 
means are as steady and efficient as any other troops. 
The 1 66th regiment was formed, in large part, by 
,„„., men raised under the draft of 1862. It was 

P- V. organized on the 29th of November in that 
year, on the fair grounds, named Camp Franklin, 



I06 HISTORICAL SKETCH. 

after Major General William B. Franklin, with the 
following field officers: Andrew J. Fulton, late cap- 
lain of Company C of the 87th, colonel, George W. 
Reisinger, lieutenant colonel, and Joseph A. Renaut, 
major. The troops comprising this regiment were 
exclus' . ely from York county, and proved them- 
selves to be good soldiers. On the 8th of November, 
the regiment proceeded to Washington, and from 
thence to Newport, and under General Peck, to Suf- 
folk, which place was besieged by General Longstreet 
for more than three weeks, who failed to reduce it. 
While there, companies of the 166th were engaged 
in heavy skirmishes with the enemy and sustained 
considerable loss in killed, wounded and prisoners. 
Companies D and I had a severe conflict on the 14th 
of May, near Carnsville. After further service in the 
destruction of railroads leadintr north, during which 
they were exposed to the fire of the enemy, especially 
at Hanover Junction, while engaged in destroying 
the Richmond and Fredericksburg railroad. At the 
expiration of their term of service, on the 28th of 
July, 1863, they were mustered out. The regiment 
left with over eight hundred men and about six hun- 
dred and fifty returned — nine were killed, about 
twenty-five died, and others were left sick at Fortress 
Monroe. 

In the meantime, events at .lome gave our people 
jj g work to do; and in all cases when called upon 

Hospital. iQ furnish provisions or giveaid to the sick and 
wounded, they were ready with abundance, and with 
sanitary help. The 2nd regiment of the Ira Harris 



HISTORICAL SKETCH. IO7 

cavalry (6th N. Y.) took up winter quarters here 
about Christmas, 1861. In the course of the winter 
barracks were erected on the commons for their ac- 
commodation. This regiment had occasion to ex- 
press their appreciation of the hospitable attention 
tliey received from our citizens. General Havelock, 
a distinguished British officer, a volunteer on the 
staff of General McClellan, as Inspector General of 
Cavalry, visited York, in March 1862, for the purpose 
of superintending the transportation of the New York 
regiment, which soon after left us. The barracks 
erected for them were converted into a military hos- 
pital, in the course of the summer, in which many hun- 
dreds of soldiers were placed The ladies of the bor- 
ough formed a society for the relief of sick and 
wounded soldiers, Mrs. C. A. Morris, president, 
which was perfect in organization and effectiveness, 
and the attention, sympathy and aid afforded by it 
have been gratefully remembered. 

Great apprehensions were excited by the retreat 
Alarm ^^ ^^^^ army under General Pope, in Septem- 
1862. i^gj.^ 1862, and still further increased by the 
crossing of the Potomac by the rebels in large force, 
and the occupation of the city of Frederick. In con- 
sequence of the reported advance of the enemy to- 
wards the Pennsylvania line, a meetingof the citizens 
of the borough was called, on the 8th of September. 
1862, and it was resolved to form companies in the 
respecdve wards, and voluntary organizations were 
thereupon immediately formed, in the first, second, 
third, fourth and fifth wards, two in the fourth, and an 



I08 HISTORICAL SKETCH. 

independent company being the seventh, called the 
Keystone Guards, and a cavalry company called the 
Videttes. The captains of these companies secured 
seven hundred stand of arms and necessary accoutre- 
ments. Places of business were closed at 6 o'clock, 
to give an opportunity for drilling, and to acquire 
proficiency in case the companies were needed. — 
They were all mustered into the service on the 12th 
of September, 1862, and were not discharged until 
the 24th. The Keystone Guards were fully armed 
and equipped ready to march when the order to move 
was countermanded. The leception of the news of 
the battle of Antietam, and of the retreat of Lee 
across the Potomac, quieted the country. 

In June, 1863, our people were again thrown into 
., a state of excitement from an apprehended 

Alarm, ^^r 

1863. rebel invasion. Two military departments 
were erected and General Couch was given command 
of the eastern department, and orders issued for the 
formation of the army corps of the Susquehanna, but 
the enemy moved with more rapidity than was ex- 
pected. Dr. Palmer, surgeon in charge of the U. S. 
Hospital, received orders to remove the patients and 
stores to a place of greater security, the rolling stock 
of the Northern Central Railway was removed north- 
ward, and citizens were warned to take care of their 
valuables, especially their horses. A large meeting 
was held on the 15th of June, and a committee of 
safety formed. Major Granville O. Haller, 7th U. 
S. Infantry, who was in York at this time, was placed 
in command of military preparations here by order 



HISTORICAL SKETCH. 1 O^ 

of General Couch. General William B. Franklin, U, 
S. A., was also present in York. These officers met 
in consultation with the safety committee. Large 
bounties were offered by the borough and county 
authorities. A company under Captain Seip was 
organized and sent to Harrisburg, and a company 
of horsemen acted as scouts. But before any 
further organizations could be effected, the rapid 
movements of the enemy brought him to our doors. 
They came nearer and nearer, heralded by flying fam- 
ilies, and horses and cattle, removed by the orders of 
General Couch, to the east of the Susquehanna. On 
the 26th of June, Gettysburg was occupied by a large 
force. Late at night the Philadelphia City Troop ar- 
rived with jaded horses and reported that the)' had 
been chased several miles this side of Gettysburg. 
Major Haller arrived at midnight, having narrowly 
made his escape from that place. The enemy were 
reported the next day, Saturday, at Abbottstown. 
The troops here, consisting of the Patapsco Guards, 
about sixty men, and two hundred convalescents of 
the hospital and some citizens, the City Troop, a cav- 
alry company from Gettysburg, in all about three 
hundred and fifty men — companies of citizens were 
not ordered out — were at first moved westward, but 
it was deemed that such resistance as they might 
make would likely result in disaster to the town, and 
they were moved towards VVrightsville. 

On the 28th of June^ 1863, the rebel army trntered 
. York. Thev marched into town about ten 

<.>ccii])ati()n -' 

of York, o'clock, on Sunday morning, entering tho 



IIO HISTORKAl. SKETCH. 

west end of Market street; the church bells had com- 
menced rinorino- and the citizens crowded the streets. 
Ladies on their way to church stopped on the porches 
and sidewalks. The whole population soon thronged 
the streets, and men, women and children, looked with 
curious eyes, mingled with undefined apprehensions, 
upon the motley procession of cavalry, infantry and 
artillery marching up Market street, the soldiers look- 
ing curiously from side to side, astonished not less at 
their observers than their observers were at them. 
The people were in holiday or Sunday costume — the 
ladies in all their fashionable finery, and the men look- 
ing: well dressed and comfortable, in strange contrast 
with the ragged and worn appearance of the invading 
army. These first troops that entered the town were 
General Gordon's brigade of twenty-five hundred men 
who marched up Market street, and on towards 
Wrightsville. The Union fiag was floating in the 
centre square and was taken down and carried off 
by them. 

Two regiments of infantry, with ten pieces of artil- 
lery, followed, and with them, Major General Early, 
commander of the division. This last brigade took 
possession of the hospital grounds — the commons. 
General Early established his headquarters in the 
court house. York was the only place of any consid- 
erable size and wealth they had had in their grasp. 
Theysaw the rich valley, and the evidences of prosper" 
ity all around us, and made their demands according- 
!)•. Although the men were restrained from violence 
and citizens were treated with respect, the iron hand 



H I S7T)R I CAL SKETCH. I 1 I 

of an enemy was felt. A requisition was made for 
provisions and articles of clothing and one hundred 
thousand dollars in money. Our prominent business 
men, by their efforts, partially filled the requisition — 
raising some twenty eight thousand dollars. Threats 
were made of burninor the railroad buildings and car 
shops, and prudence dictated compliance as far as 
possible. 

Four brigades were in York and vicinity, com- 
manded by Generals Gordon, Hayes, Smith and 
Hoke. The brigade of General Gordon marched to 
Wrightsville, reaching there about six o'clock, in the 
evening. The few Union troops there retreated 
across the bridge, after the exchange of a few shots 
with the enemy. The bridge was fired about mid- 
way, and soon the whole was enveloped in flames. 
The invading troops left hastily on the morning of 
Tuesday, the 30th of June, between four and five 
o'clock. 

There were some incidents connected with the 
rebel invasion of the Borouo-h of York, which orave 
rise to much excitement and misrepresentation at the 
time and afterwards, and as a part of the res gestae, as 
the lawyers say, cannot pass unnoticed. Sufficient 
time has elapsed since the war to view the pro- 
ceedings calmly, A visit was made to the camp 
of the enemy, on the evening preceding his entry 
into town, by the request of the committee of safety, 
in order to assure the alarmed citizens of the safety 
of person and property — an assurance which ac- 
counts for the calm manner in which the presence 



112 HISTORICAL SKETCH. 

and control of a hostile foe was viewed by our people 
the next day; and the flag', in centre square, was left 
flying to show that the town wa.s no/ surrendered. It 
was soon after replaced by another tia^, presented by 
W. Latimer Small, Esq., to the borough. 

At Hanover, the first battle of the war inPennsyl- 
,. .„ . vania, was fouo-ht on Tuesday, the ^oth of 

iiattle of ' '^ y ' .J 

Hanover. June, 1 863, an artillery and cavalry fight 
which lasted the greater part of the day — the cannon- 
ading was distinctly heard in York, The third divi- 
sion of the cavalry corps of the Army of the Potomac, 
under General Kilpatrick, one of the brigades of 
which w^as commanded by (General Custer, reached 
Litdestown on the 29th, and Hanover on the 30th, in 
pursuit of General Stuart, who was known to be 
moving through Pennsylvania. The i8th Pennsyl- 
vania Cavalry' was of the rear guard of Kilpatrick's 
column, and while halting in the streets of Planover 
was suddenly attacked by the head of Stuart's col- 
umn, the 1 8th was at first driven through the town- 
but rallying with the 5th New York, drove the enemy 
back, when his ardllery opened fire. The roar of 
ouns brouoht Kilpatrick to the rescue. He formed 
his line of battle on the hills south of Hanover, and 
the enemy held the heights to the north, the i8th 
I'ennsylvania occupying the town and barricading the 
streets. The fight, with artillery firing and skirmish- 
ing, continued until dark, when the enemy retired. A 
large body of them came as far as Dover, and about 
two hundred and thirty prisoners were paroled there. 
Thirteen Union men were killed and fourteen 



H I STOR I C AL SKETCH. I I 3 

wounded, four rebels killed and nine wounded. Stuart 
was prevented by this engagement from joining Lee 
until after the battle of Gettysburg, and his absence 
was greatly deplored by the Confederate leader. 

Among the most renowned and effective branche 
11th of the service were the cavalry regiments. 

Cavalry. The II th cavalry, (loSth P. V.) was organ- 
ized at the commencement of the war. It received 
recruits here who were attached to company I, Capt. 
Wm. I. Relsinger and Daniel H. Shriver, lieutenant. 
This regiment was employed in continuous and ar- 
duous cavalry service for four years, with the army 
of the Potomac and with Sheridan. In one of its 
raids Lieutenant Shriver was killed, at Flat Creek 
Bridge, on the 1 4th of February, 1864. 

During the months of June and July, 1863, the 
^j^^ 2 1 St cavalr^s (182 P. V.) was recruited, under 

Penn'a. a Call for cavalry for six months' service, 

Cavalry. . .... .... 

durmg which it was on scouting duty in the 
Shenandoah valley. Company A, Captain Hugh W. 
McCall, lieutenants, S. Nelson Kilgore and Samuel 
N. Manifold, was raised principally in the lower end 
of York county. In January^ 1864, it was re-organi- 
zed for three years' service. This regiment was en- 
gaged at Cold Harbor, on the ist, 2d and 3d of June. 
1864, and in the assault on Petersburg, on the i8th. 
Again, at Jerusalem Plank Road, Weldon Railroad, 
at Poplar Spring Church, where it was compli- 
mented for its gallantr)' by General Griffin, and at 
Hatcher's Run. Afterwards it was in other engage- 
ments, and, in the final assault upon the defences of 



114 HISTORICAL SKETCH. 

Petersburo;, had the honor of makings the first charge, 
in the campaign, near Dinwiddie Court House, and 
had other fighting up to the surrender near Appo- 
mattox Court House. It was mustered out on the 
8th of July, 1865. 

Just previous to the invasion of Pennsylvania, in 
iS7thi June, 1863, a company was formed in York, 
^ ^^- which was united with a body of troops, 
known as the First Battalion, and placed on guard 
and provost duty. In March, 1864, it became com- 
pany B, of the 187th P. v., then organized for three 
years' service: David Z.Seipe, captain, afterwards ma- 
jor, Sam'l I.Adams, 1st lieutenant, afterwards captain, 
Matthew H.McCall, ist lieutenant and quarter master 
of the regiment, Jonathan J. Jessop, William \V. Tor- 
bert, Samuel C. Ilgenfritz, 2nd lieutenants. In May, 
1864, the regiment was ordered to the front to join 
the Army of the Potomac and assigned to the 5 th 
corps, arriving in time to participate in the battle of 
Cold Harbor. It suffered severely at Petersburg, on 
the 1 8th of June, Major Merrick, commanding the 
regiment, and Lieutenant Jessop, each lost a leg, 
while leadino; their men to the charofe. For its oral- 
lant conduct the regiment received the commenda- 
tion of General Chamberlain, commanding the corps. 
It was acrain engfao-ed at Weldon Railroad, on the 
1 8th of August. In September it was moved from 
the front and placed on dut>' at Philadelphia, where 
it acted as escort to the remains of President Lincoln 
on the occasion of the funeral obsequies in that city. 

Besides the company of Captain Seipe, just men- 



HISTORICAL SKETCH. II5 

tioned, companies were formed in York county, who 
were mustered in for the emergency service, from 
June to August, 1863, but the great victory of Get- 
tysburg, reheved our people from all apprehended 
danger. 

The first and eleventh corps of the army of the Po- 

Battie tomac, on Wednesday, the ist of July, 1863, 

of came up with the enemy, in lar^e force, under 

Gettysburg. i ttmt it 

Generals Hill and Longstreet, near Gettys- 
burg, and a short and severe engagement ensued in 
and around that town. General Reynolds was kil- 
led at the commencement of the fiofht, while ridinor at 
the head of his troops. On Thursday, another en- 
gagement began — the rest of the army under Gener- 
al Meade having come up, and the army of the Con- 
federates under General Lee, The firinor was heard 
here distinctly, and in the evening, from six to eight 
o'clock, it was terrific. On Friday, the battle contin- 
ued, resultino- in the defeat and retreat of Lee, This 
great battle furnished an opportunity to our people 
to forward supplies and assistance to the wounded 
and suffering soldiers, on and in the neighborhood of 
the field of battle. It scarce needed a public meet- 
ing, which was called for the purpose, to cause our citi- 
zens to bring in abundance of j^rovisions to the market 
and court houses. In less than two hours and a half, 
thirty wagons, loaded down with the necessaries of 
life, bread, cakes, hams and delicacies, accompanied 
by male and female nurses, were on their way to the 
battle field. Provisions continued to arrive and were 
at once forwarded to the scene of action. 



I I 6 HISTORICAL SKETCH. 

In the early part of 1864, sanitary fairs throughout 
the country were held, and the ladies of the Soldiers' 
Aid Society of York, in February of that year, inaug- 
urated a series of entertainments in connection with 
their fair, consisting of concerts, tableaux and other 
exhibitions, by which large amounts of money were 
raised for the sanitary fund. Quiet reigned at home, 
and our people were free from all apprehension of 
danger until they were suddenly disturbed by anoth- 
er advance of the enemy across the Potomac. 

After terrible battles and frightful slaughter, Gen- 
Aiarm ^^^^ Grant, about the first of July, 1864, sat 
1864. down before Petersburgf to commence the 
siege of the enemy's works, and the slow, but sure ad- 
vance to Richmond. But while he was there with 
his great army, the country was startled by another 
invasion of Maryland, by Ewell's army, and siege 
laid to Washington, the enemy's cannon shaking the 
very capitol. After the battle of Monocacy, the con- 
federate cavalry overran all eastern Maryland. Har- 
ry Gilmore made his famous raid destroying the rail- 
roads, and particularly, cutting off communication be- 
tween Philadelphia and Baltimore. A memorable 
incident of this raid was the capture and escape of 
Major General Franklin. On the nth day of July, 
when on the train from Baltimore to Philadelphia, he 
was taken prisoner, but while at Reisterstown, in 
charge of a guard, he made his escape. Feigning 
sleep, the guards fell asleep really, when he quietly 
walked off. After hiding two days in the woods, he 
met a farmer who befriended him, and with whom he 



HISTORICAL SKETCH. I I 7 

took refuge until it was time to make his way further. 

There was witnessed, in the month of July, 1864, 
again the distressing sight of refugees fleeing through 
our streets in charge of horses and cattle. The 
proximity of the enemy occasioned great alarm. 
There was a call by the Governor for 24,000 men to 
serve for one hundred days. Five companies were 
formed in York for home protection, and public 
meetings were called to provide bounties for volun- 
teers. The stores were closed, and business gener- 
ally suspended. 

On the 30th of July, the awful news was received 
of the burning of the town of Chambersburg. Three 
hundred and fifty houses were burned and all the 
public buildings. A public meeting for the relief of 
the sufferers was called and several thousand dollars 
were raised for that purpose in York. The enemy 
retiring relieved us from further apprehension. 

Of the hundred days men, the 194th regiment had 
jg^^jj men from York county. It was put on duty 
P- ^^- in and near Baltimore, on the lines of the 
railroads, on provost duty and as guard to prisoners. 

Early in 1864 a draft was ordered for 500,000 men, 
unless forthcoming by volunteers, and for some dis- 
tricts a draft was made on the 6th of June. On the 1 8th 
of July there was a call for 500,000 volunteers. This 
call, after the already exhausting drafts, roused a class 
of citizens, who, determined to volunteer themselves, 
and fill the quotas, organized companies, and became 
attached to regiments, which, although putinto service 
late in the war, acquired the distinction of veterans. 



Il8 HISTORICAL SKETCH. 

The 200th regiment was commanded by Colonel 
'>ooth Charles W. Diven, formerly major of the 
P- V. 1 2th Reserves. It was organized on the 3d 
of September, 1864. The companies, formed In York, 
attached to this regiment, were, company A, Adam 
Relslnger, John WImer, captains, Wm. F. Relslnger, 
Edward Smith, Jere Oliver, lieutenants ; company D, 
William H. Duhling, captain, Martin L. Duhling and 
William H. Drayer, lieutenants; company H, Jacob 
Wiest, captain, James M'Comas and William H. 
Smyser, lieutenants; company K, Hamilton A. Gless- 
ner, captain, George I. Spangler, Augustus C. Steig 
and Zachariah S. Shaw, lieutenants. 

At the time of the formation of the companies just 
^„-^j mentioned, a company was raised in York by 

i""- V. Captain Lewis Small, lieutenants, Richard C. 
Ivory and William L. Keagle. This company was 
attached, at Harrisburg, to the 207th regiment as com- 
pany E. 

Two other companies from York county were also 
'^09th then formed, one by Captain Henry W, 
1^- ^'- Spangler, lieutenants, Thomas J. Hendricks, 
William Douglas and William B. Morrow ; the other 
by Captain John Klugh, lieutenants George W. 
Heiges and Henry L. Arnold, and were attached to 
the 209th regiment as companies B. and I, 

These three regiments, organized about the same 
time, were immediately ordered to the front, and 
placed in the Army of the James, and were employed 
in active duty until the 24th of November, whiMi they 
were transferred to the Army of the Potomac, and 



HISTORICAL SKETCH. II 9 

placed In the division of General Hartranft, gdi corps. 
Theyperformed fadgiie duty andwere thoroughly dril- 
led during the winter, and were engaged in several 
raids at Bermuda Hundred, Jerusalem Plank Road 
and Hatcher's Run, and at the opening of the spring 
campaign they were engaged in one of the mostbrilliant 
achievements of the w^ar. Fort Steadman was, by a 
surprise, captured by the enemy. Hartranft had six 
Pennsylvania regiments, including these three, and 
determined to lead his command at once to the as- 
sault—Colonel Diven, commanding the ist brigade. 
About daylight, on Saturday morning, the 25th 
of March, after three several assaults, under very 
heavy fire, the fort was retaken. The 200th led the 
assault, supported by the 209th. The 200th received 
particular mention in General Hartranft's report : — 
"It was put to the severest test, and behaved with 
great firmness and steadiness." And he congratu- 
lated all the men and officers ot his command "for 
their gallant and heroic conduct," that they had "won 
a name and reputadon of which veterans ought to 
teel proud." 

On the 2d of April, the division was again formed 
for assault in front of Fort Sedgewick, in the capture 
of which the men and officers behaved with great 
gallantry and coolness. Sergeant Michael Harman, 
of company E, 207th, was killed in this assault. The 
color sergeant of the regiment. Goo. J. Horning, fell 
pierced with seven balls, when Sergt.Chas. J. Ilgenfritz 
sprang forward and raised the colors, and the men 
rushed over the works and the colors were planted 



I 20 HISTORICAL SKETCH. 

on the fort. The regiments advanced to the city of 
Petersburg, which was by this time abandoned, and 
continued in pursuit of the enemy until the surren- 
der of Lee, and in May they were mustered out. 

A company was raised in York by Captain Eman- 
103rd uel Herman, in the early part of 1865, Eman- 
■ ■ uel Rutter, I st lieutenant, and Charles W. P. 
Collins, 2nd lieutenant. This company was attached, 
with seven other companies, to the 103rd veteran 
regiment, which had been reduced to eighty-one men. 
It was on duty in North Carolina, until the 25th of 
June, 1865, when it was mustered out at Nevvbern. 

Soldiers from York and York county, volunteered 
in other Pennsylvania regiments, besides those men- 
tioned, and also in regiments of other states, and 
where, in some cases, they had become residents. — 
Henry J. Test, who had been a member of the Worth 
Infantry, in the three month's service, volunteered 
in the 79th P. V. (Colonel Hambright's regiment, of 
Lancaster county,) became a lieutenant in company B, 
and was killed at the battle of Perryville, Kentucky, 
on the 8th of October, 1862. The 7th Iowa regi- 
ment was commanded by Colonel Jacob Lauman, af- 
terwards Brigadier General, who was with General 
Grant in the west, at Belmont, Pittsburg Landinof and 
Fort Donelson. At this last named place, Captain 
Jonathans. Slaymaker, of the 2nd Iowa, fell while 
leading his company in the assault. Corporal David 
Hays, of the 13th Indiana, a soldier of the Mexican 
war, distinguished himself in a desperate hand to hand 
encounter with the rebels in Western Viroinia. — 



HISTORICAL SKETCH. 121 

Many others might be mentioned whose names 
cannot be recalled for this sketch, one object of 
which is to suggest the completion of that history 
of which it is but an outline. 

Thus from the ordinary life of the citizen, from the 
farm, the workshop, the counting room and 
aiiT^ the office, our men left their business and 
^^^^y- homes, at the call of their country, and 
formed a part of that great body of volunteers, 
which constituted, with the regular army as a 
nucleus, th(| military power of the nation, and fur- 
nished their full share towards the preservation of 
the American Union. The Army officers are chiefly 
graduates of the Military Academy. These in many 
instances, during the war, retaining their rank in the 
line, became general officers of volunteers. The 
West Point graduates from York attained conspicu- 
ous positions in the service. William B. Franklin 
was major general by brevet, and major general of 
volunteers; Horatio Gates Gibson, major, 3d artillery, 
was colonel of 2d Ohio Heavy Artillery and brevet 
brigadier general of volunteers. On the staff, Ed- 
mund Shriver was Inspector General of the army of 
the United States and brevet major general ; Mich- 
ael P. Small, colonel, commissary department, and 
brevet brigadier general. Of those appointed from 
civil life were Major Granville O. Haller, 7th infant- 
ry ; Captain Walter S. Franklin, 12th infantry, bre- 
vet major and on the staff with the rank of lieuten- 
ant colonel ; Captain Theodore D. Cochran, of the 
13th infantry; Captain Charles Garretson, of the 



122 HISTORICAL SKETCH. 

17th infantry; Lieutenant George W. H. Stouch, 3d 
infantry, and Lieutenant Jacob L. Stouch, 1 2th infant- 
ry. 

The brilHant achievements of the navy reflected 
luster upon the national escutcheon, and to that 
branch of the service is due one half of the conquest 
of the rebellion. Graduates of the Naval Academy, 
from this place. Commanders Clarke H. Wells, Sam- 
uel R. Franklin and William Gibson, participated in 
the great naval engagements of the war, and exper- 
ienced on the iron clads, in blockade, bombardment, 
and battle, in Charleston Harbor and on the James 
and Mississippi and elsewhere, much perilous and 
arduous service ; and volunteers from the borougfh 
and county of York, were to be found among the 
o-allant crews and officers of Union vessels. 

The city of Richmond was deserted on Sunday, 
the 2d of April, 1865, by the confederate government 
and by the army that for a year had so fiercely defend- 
ed it. The first Union troops who entered it found 
it abandoned and in flames. The fall of Richmond 
was celebrated in York, on the 8th of April, by a pro- 
cession — business was suspended and at night there 
was an illumination. On the 9th of April, General 
Lee surrendered the confederate army of Northern 
Virginia to General Grant, and on the 26th of April 
General Johnston surrendered the Confederate States 
Army in North Carolina, to General Sherman. — 
Peace was soon after proclaimed, and "the cruel war 
was over." 

But while these concluding events of the greatest 



HISTORICAL SKEICH. I 23 

of civil wars were enacting, the startling intelligence 
of the assassination of President Lincoln plunged the 
nation into the deepest mourning. On the 21st of 
April, almost every resident of York repaired to the 
railroad, to pay the last sad tribute of respect to the 
memory of the lamented chief magistrate. The mil- 
itary and citizens in procession were placed in line, 
and the funeral cortege, amid the tolling of bells and 
firing of minute guns, passed through lines of citizens 
who stood with uncovered heads. A floral tribute 
was laid upon his coffin by the ladies of York. It con- 
sisted ofa beautiful wreath of rare flowers encircling the 
national shield. The field was made of blue violets, with 
myrtle representing the stars, the bars were made 
alternately of white and red verbena. Thus passed 
the last sad pageant of a most painful, but eventful 
period in the history of our nation. 

One interesting result of the war was the estab- 
Chiidrens' lishment of Orphans' Homes for friendless 
Home. children and those of soldiers who had died 
in defence of their country. For this purpose legis- 
lative appropriations were made. The Childrens' 
Home of York was incorporated by the legislature, 
February 2d, 1865, for the laudable and benevolent 
purpose of educating and providing for friendless and 
destitute children, distinct from the state provision 
for soldiers' orphans; though it was proposed to send 
to it those belonging to the county. A house was 
rented on the first of May, 1865, and on the iSth of 
the same month, the first family of soldiers' orphans 
was admitted. The youngest child was supported by 



I 24 HISTORICAL SKETCH. 

the institution until it reached the age which entitled 
it to the state provision. During the first two years, 
on account of limited accommodations, but thirty-one 
wards of the state were admitted — all very young. 
The large and commodious building ot the "Chil- 
drens' Home," was first occupied on the first of April, 
1867. This building was erected on ground donated 
by Mr. Samuel Small, and under his direction and 
principally at his expense, aided also by contributions 
from the late Charles A. Morris. Since then soldiers' 
children have been assigned to the home from York, 
Adams, Dauphin and Cumberland counties, and sev- 
enty-six have shared its fostering care. Some of the 
boys have been transferred to White Hall and else- 
where, each year, at the age of twelve or thirteen 
years; but the girls have generally been retained in 
the Home, where several have graduated with honor. 
Some have entered normal schools. In mental train- 
ing, deportment, skill in needle work, and in house- 
hold duties, these girls compare favorably with those 
in any of our schools. Four excellent physicians give 
their services free of charge to the institution. A 
remarkable fact has been noted, that in this family of 
from sixty to sixty-five persons, no death has ever oc- 
curred, and very little severe illness. There are at 
present in the home thirty-one soldiers' orphans. 

In the great public measure of the Common School 
Common system, from its rude beginning, the devel- 
Schoois. opment has been great, until now to-day, no 
better organized or managed school control, than the 
boards of this borough and county, can be found. 



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HISTORICAL SKETCH. 



125 



Under the school law it was first left to the districts 
to* accept or reject its provisions. In 1835, ^^^^ Bor- 
ough uf York, Hanover, Lower Chanceford, Peach 
Bottom, Chanceford aud Fairview accepted the pro- 
visions of the school law. The next year, 1836, 
Springfield, Fawn, Windsor, Shrewsbury, Carrol, 
Warrington, Hellam, Hopewell, Monaghan and New- 
berry accepted. An inherited love of freedom or 
hatred of compulsion caused some of our people, for 
a time, to resist the school law; but in 1848, the leg 
islature declared that the common school system 
shall be held to be adopted by the several school dis- 
tricts. The office of county superintendent, created 
in 1854, has been of great benefit to the cause of ed- 
ucation in York county. The usefulness of the office 
has been appreciated, and able and competent gen- 
tlemen have been elected to fill it, at a liberal salary. 
The county superintendents have been Hon. Jacob 
Kirk, G. Christopher Stair, Dr. A. R. Blair, Samuel 
B. Heiges, Stephen G. Boyd, William H. Kain. 

The High School was established in this borough 
jjj , in 1 8 70, by the authority of the Board of Con- 

Schooi. trollers. This school is of the same stand- 
ard as such schools elsewhere, and is modeled some- 
what after that of the High School of Philadelphia, 
and others of the best schools of the country. 
The courses of study are English, with modern 
languages, and also with the classics and the high- 
er mathematics. The advance of grade since its or- 
ganization is ten per cent annually. There is pro- 
motion to this school from the grammar school 



126 HISTORICAL SKETCH. 

grades. Promotion is regular in the system, from 
lower to higher, on examination by the superintend- 
ent, and accurate records are kept of each pupil's 
standing, from entrance into the public school, through 
each step of promotion, until he enters the High 
School and orraduates. It commenced with two teach- 
ers and about sixty pupils, and has now three teach- 
ers, and had eighty-five pupils in attendance last year. 
Prof. W. H. Shelly has been the principal and super- 
intendent from the organization — a teacher and or- 
ganizer of more than ordinary ability. 

In matters of private enterprise regarding the in- 
terests of education, there are several insti- 
tutions of celebrity. The York County 
Academy has already been mentioned and its history 
noticed. This school, now in its eighty-eighth aca- 
demic year, is one of the best schools in the state, 
under the charge of Professor G. W, Ruby, who suc- 
ceeded Rev. Stephen Boyer, twenty-seven years ago. 
A school for young ladies, entitled Cottage Hill 
Collep'e, has been in existence for many 

Cottage * ^ ^ 

Hill years, under dinerent proressors, with great 

^^^' success, which, in 1868, was incorporated by 
the legislature, under that name. The chartered in- 
stitution ceased a few years ago, but the school is 
now conducted under new management. This col- 
leo-e is beautifully situated on the Codorus, opposite 
the borough, on a tract of several acres, with springs, 
and a stream of pure water running through it. It 
is fitted with arbors, gardens, fruit and ornamental 
trees. The cottaq^e in which the school is maintain- 



HISTORICAL SKETCH. 12/ 

ed, is a building of four stories in height, nearly a 
hundred feet in length, and fifty in width, with large 
school rooms and commodious dormitories, and an 
observatory. This is a well known educational insti- 
tution under the charge of efficient teachers. 

The York Collegiate Institute was founded by Mr. 
Collegiate Samuel Small, in 1873. On the 14th of April, 
Institute, jj^ j.j^^^ y&diV, at a meeting held in the chapel 
of the Presbyterian Church in York, Mr. Small pre- 
sented a paper containing his plan for the foundation 
of a public Literary and Religious Institution in this 
community, and naming trustees for the same. The 
endowment of this institution was a cherished idea of 
his, "being deeply impressed with the importance of 
increasing popular facilities for intellectual and moral 
culture, and especially solicitous for the christian ed- 
ucation of youth — to lay the foundation of an enter- 
prise for affording instruction, not only in the ordi- 
nary branches of literature and science, but also and 
especially, in regard to the great end and business of 
life." 

The Institute was incorporated on the 27th of Au- 
gust, 1873, and was inaugurated with appropriate and 
interesting ceremonies, on Monday, the third of No- 
vember, 1873, in the presence of the Westminster 
Presbytery, the trustees of the Institute, and a laro-e 
number of citizens of York and adjoining cities. The 
building had been commenced two years previously 
and had been carried forward to completion under 
the immediate direction of its Founder. 

The Rev. James McDougal, of Long Island, was 



128 HISTORICAL SKETCH. 

elected President of the Institute, and Mr. Samuel B. 
Heiges, Professor of Mathematics and Natural 
Science. The York Collegiate Institute has been 
eminently successful, and is a literary and scientific 
school of high grade. 

In all branches of education there has been enter- 
f^^^ prise manifested by citizens of York. As early 

College, as 1853, the Pennsylvania Commercial Col- 
lege was established by T. Kirk White, which was 
incorporated in 1856. This is the only school of the 
kind incorporated in Pennsylvania, and was in suc- 
cessful operation until the breaking out of the war. 
Similar schools for business training have, from time 
to time, been instituted, and an Actual Business Col- 
lege is now established in the same building. 

It has been usual in histories of counties to give 
Dr Fred'k descHptive accounts of its natural history, 
Meisheimer and the science of one branch of that knowl- 
edge has been considered of great importance on ac- 
count of its relation to agriculture. It is not within 
the province of this sketch to do so, but in order to 
illustrate our progress, those who have contributed 
to knowledge in this respect deserve especial notice. 
Men distinguished in any branch of science are rare. 
On the tenth of March, 1873, there died, in Dover 
township, in this county, though scarcely known to 
this generation, Dr. Frederick Ernest Meisheimer, 
aged about ninety one years. He was born at Han- 
over, York county, on the 20th of April, 1782, grad- 
uated in Baltimore in 1814, and first practised his 
profession at East Berlin, Adams county, then moved 



HISTORICAL SKETCH. I 29 

to York county, where he continued the practice of 
medicine until almost the last days of his earthly 
career. In his early days he turned his powers of 
mind to that interesting branch of natural history. 
Entomology, which was then in its infancy yet, in the 
United States. This science he cultivated more, it 
may safely be said, than any other man in America. 
Men celebrated as naturalists, as Rev. John Morris, 
D. D., of Baltimore, acknowledged that he was the 
Father of Entomology, in Pennsylvania, if not in the 
United States. In the year 1842, the Entomological 
Society of Pennsylvania was formed, and Dr. Mels- 
heimer was elected President of it in 1853. He pre- 
pared and completed a work on Insects (Coleoptera) 
in the United States, especially of practical impor- 
tance to the agriculturalists, which was published 
shordy after by the Smithsonian Institute at Wash- 
ino-ton. He held correspondence with many Euro- 
pean, as well as American scientists, and conse- 
quently, his name was known in Europe among the 
great naturalists. Papers left by him show that he 
received many honors from his Fatherland, whence his 
father, who was also a naturalist, came. We 
may never know or properly appreciate the patient 
labors, or their importance to practical science, of the 
life work of this remarkable man, who should hold 
a high place among the worthies of the past century 
which his term of life nearly filled. 

Of late years public improvements have notably 
Public increased. The Peach Bottom Railway 
mentT'" compauy was incorporated in the year 1868. 



130 HISTORICAL SKETCH. 

This being a narrow gauge road, it has, from its 
novelty of construction, been an interesting feature of 
pubHc enterprise. It has gone on steadily to com- 
pletion, by the energy of the men who have controll- 
ed it, under some difficulties, and was opened on the 
1 6th of April, in the present year, to Delta, in the ex- 
treme lower end of the county, a distance of thirty- 
six miles — the seat of extensive and valuable slate 
quarries; the road opening facilities for business and 
travel much needed for that section of country. The 
only commercial avenue hitherto being the Susque- 
hanna canal. This road will be extended across the 
Susquehanna, through Lancaster and Chester coun- 
ties, where it is already partially completed. 

In the upper end of the county, the Dillsburg and 
Mechanicsburg Railroad was finished between those 
places in 1872, a distance of about seven miles. The 
company was organized on the first of November, 
1871, under the general railroad law of the common- 
wealth. The Harrisburg and Potomac Railroad, con- 
necting with the Cumberland Valley Railroad, runs 
through a portion of the upper end of the county, and 
within a mile oi Dillsburg grading is now in progress 
to extend the road to Petersburg, Adams count)^ and 
ultimately to the Potomac. 

The Hanover and York Railroad company was in- 
corporated in 1873, and within two years the railroad 
was completed, a distance of eighteen miles — the 
first train being run on the 29th of May, 1875. This 
road, known as the "short line," forms a part of the 
Frederick division of the Pennsylvania Railroad, with 



HISTORICAL SKETCH. I3I 

the Wrightsville Bianch, formerly the Wrightsville, 
York and Gettysburg Railroad, which was completed 
between York and the Susquehanna river in April, 
1840. 

The Borough of Hanover has kept pace with the 
progress of improvements. Gas was furnished to its 
people in December, 1870, and water in December, 
1873, by incorporated joint stock companies. Han- 
over is the oldest borough in the county outside of 
York, having been incorporated in 181 5. The other 
oldest boroughs are, Lewisberry, incorporated 1832, 
Dillsburg, 1833, Shrewsbury and Wrightsville, 1834. 
There are now nineteen boroughs in the county, 
nearly all prominent and wealthy centres of trade and 
business — many unincorporated towns, and thirty 
townships. 

York is distinguished for the excellence of its pub- 
lic buildings. Many of the churches are of architec- 
tural beauty, and the school houses are handsomely 
built with all modern improvements. The county 
buildings are model structures. The court house, 
with its granite front and Corinthian pillars, already 
mentioned, forms a prominent feature in the main 
avenue of the borough. A new prison was erected 
in 1855, at a cost of $62,950.76 under the superinten- 
dence of Edward Haviland, Esq., architect. It is in 
the Norman style, built of stone, front and facings 
of Conewago brown sand stone, with turrets and a 
lofty tower. The interior arrangements are after the 
plan of the Eastern penitentiary at Philadelphia. This 
buildinof was erected with a view to the labor as well 



132 HISTORICAL SKETCH. 

as confinement of prisoners. The old jail stood on 
the north-east corner of George and Kinor streets, a 
stone buildinor of two stories, and windows barred 
with iron, erected about 1756, when the old court 
house was built. It was removed in 1861. A 
new hospital was built in 1858, at a cost of *^4S,- 
661 63. A large and commodious structure sur- 
rounded by a large yard, with shade trees and mounds 
of flowers. The building presenting a fine appear 
ance, which attracts the eyes of travelers approaching 
the town by the railways. 

The system established in York county for the care 
and support of the poor, has been in existence since 
the year 1804, with some improvements, under the 
control of a board of directors, one of whom is annu- 
ally elected by the people. They were incorporated 
on the 6th of February, 1804, under the style of "The 
Directors of the Poor and House of Employment for 
the county of York" — the act authorizing the erect- 
ing of a house for the employment and support of 
the poor of the county. This most important branch 
of the government of every municipality very early re. 
ceived attention. Originally, on the formation of the 
county, under the general laws of the commonwealth, 
modeled after the English Poor Laws, overseers were 
appointed for each township. It seems that in some 
instances paupers were kept in the county jail. — 
When the new system was established, a tract of land 
known as the Elm Spring farm, of about hundred and 
thirty-three acres, was purchased, then said to be- 
within a mile of the borough, and another tract of 



HISTORICAL SKETCH. I 33 

about one hundred and fifty-nine acres. The price 
paid for the land was five thousand pounds. A poor 
house was erected in 1805, and the poor removed to 
it from all parts of the county. This building, enlarg- 
ed and with an additional story, is the present coun- 
ty alms house. A hospital was built in 1827, of brick, 
two stories in height, a part of which was used in the 
erection of the present handsome edifice. 

York is not behind any American town in enterprise. 
Its growth has been natural and steady, not factitious. 
To the intelligence and industry of the citizens of the 
county, is due its prosperity. Our farmers are the 
equal of any — the county one of the richest. At the 
last census there were 411,341 acres of land under 
cultivation, estimated at a cash value of $36,358.4845 
with an annual yield of produce, in the article of 
wheat alone of 1,129,750 bushels, and other produce 
in proportion. Its manufactories, of agricultural 
implements, paper, cars, machinery, and of almost 
all articles that could be mentioned, number over 
eleven hundred, with an aggregate capital of about 
$3,250,000. 

It has extensive quarries of slate and limestone and 
sandstone, and ore banks, some of which yield iron 
of the finest quality. But the mineral wealth of the 
county is as yet undeveloped. Very early in its his- 
tory iron ore was discovered, and furnaces and forges 
were erected, some of which date before the Revolu- 
tion. The discovery of the immense deposits of 
anthracite coal in the Lehigh Valley, and particularly 
of its use in the reduction of ores, drew to that region 



134 



HISTORICAL SKETCH. 



the manufacture of Iron ; but increasing mechanical 
facihties, will tend more fully to develop our resour- 
ces, and place this county upon a high pinnacle of 
material prosperity. 

York county has now on exhibition at the great Cen- 
tennial Exposition, at Philadelphia, many evidences 
of the skill of her workmen and of the genius of her 
mechanics. It takes its part in the celebration of this 
momentous anniversary with a proud record, and few 
communities can more acceptably welcome the fourth 
of July, in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight 
hundred and seventy-six. 



OUR ONE HUNDREDTH BIRTH 

DAY. 



BY E. NORMAN GUNNISON. 



Thank God ! At last the land is peace, 

A century blossoms here to-day, 
A hundred years brings its increase 

Before the nation's feet to lay, 
Outswept upon the summer air 

The flae of stars above us flies. 
The guerdon of a nation's prayer, 

The light of glad, immortal eyes. 

And bendine from their home above, 

The patriot sires of patriot sons 
May see the banner of their love, 

And hear the anthem of the guns 
Which usher in thy day of birth. 

Thy natal day, O glorious land ! 
God keep thee, sacred spot of earth, 

Within the hollow of His hand. 

Not vainly were thy battles fought, 

On every hill, in every glen. 
To-day, we see what God hath wrought 

And wrote upon the hearts of men. 
To-day before our eyes may wave 

Unstained by wrong, unsoiled by tears, 
The glorious banner of the brave. 

To crown a nation's hundred years. 



136 THE POEM. 

The flag the patriot fathers bore, 

A cloud by day, by night a flame, 
Still journeying ever on before 

And followed by a nation's fame ; 
A new born nation then, but now 

Its birth pangs o'er, its perils past, 
With glory written on its brow, 

And union, circling it at last. 

O gallant men, who fought and bled, 

And sleep to-day in freedom's soil, 
The nation's honored, glorious dead, 

Sweet be your rest from strife and toil. 
As looking from your home on high 

Ye see the gift your toil has given. 
It seems as each immortal eye 

Grows brighter with the light of heaven. 

Illustrious shades; to-day return, 

This birth-day dimmed with no alloy ; 
And here, where freedom's watch-fires burn, 

Rejoice with an exceeding joy ! 
Your phantom ranks are on each plain, 

Your phantom files are with us still, 
Your phantom tents are pitched again 

From Yorktown, back to Bunker Hill, 

Your bare-feet track the snow-clad sod. 
By Princeton's plain, by Valley Forge, 

Striking for right, ye worship God, 
In tented field, and mountain gorge. 

For ye are freedom's every one, 



THE POEM. 

Ye may not die, our deathless dead ; 
Wherever sleeps a patriot son 

The tears of heaven are o'er him shed. 

Rejoice with us, upon the blast 

Our flag floats out from sea to sea, 
Our land's first century is past, 

And we are still a people free. 
Far as our wide dominions sweep, 

Across our valleys, and our plains, 
No bondman at his task may weep, 

No ear may catch the clank of chains. 

All men are free — the black and white, 

And as the circling seasons roll 
All men are equal in his sight. 

Who colors not a human soul. 
This be our boast, as here to day 

We see the stars above us shine, 
And pause our offerings to pay 

A sacred debt at freedom's shrine. 

A sacred debt one hundred years, 

No doubts annoy, no cares obtrude, 
The shadow of no coming fears 

Shall cloud to-day our gratitude. 
He made us free. His hand shall keep, 

And firmly through the cycles hold. 
He is^the shepherd, we the sheep 

That He has folded in His fold. 

O cannon roar ! O flags stream out, 
Ring on the air a nation's cheers ; 



137 



138 THE POEM. 

Shout, 'tis thy birth-day — Freedom, shout 
The fullness of a hundred years. 

Usher the century that comes, 

Th' undying years, so close at hand 

Sound forth the trumpets, and the drums, 
And bid them welcome to the land. 

Here shall the Old world's children seek. 

And find, a shelter from their woes ; 
And in our valleys, cheek by cheek, 

The lion and the lamb repose. 
And He shall lead them ; for his peace 

Forever rests upon the land ; 
The marvel of its grand increase 

Is but the movement of His hand. 

Land of our love, to-day each heart 

Which burns anew with fond desire, 
Is but an altar set apart 

And flaming with thy sacred fire. 
The fire of freedom, burning bright, 

Enkindled by the father's hand, 
A beacon, through the darkest night 

To light the glories of the land. 

Land of our love, God's circling arm 

Enfold and guard thee in thy way, 
His blessing shelter thee from harm, 

And keep thee glorious, as to-day. 
Before the century's coming hours 

Thy cities spring, nor ever cease : 
Thy blossoms ripen into flowers. 

And crown thee with perpetual peace. 



THE ORATION. 



Ladies and Gentleme^t : 

There is to a certain extent, a sameness and not 
unfrcquently a studied formality in the annual cele- 
brations of our country's independence. We have 
the usual complement of stars and stripes, music and 
banners, and occasionally a booming cannon to fill up 
the programme, but the spirit of the day, its deep 
and searching memories, its connection with the past 
the present and future, and its influence upon the 
destiny of men and of nations, in all time to come, 
are seldom made the subject of that calm deliberation 
which their importance demands. 

The fourth of July seventeen hundred and seventy 
six was the commencement of a new era, in the his- 
tory of the world. It was the starting point in the 
great struggle between liberty and despotism. Let 
no one charcre the fathers of our revolution with that 
narrow, selfish and contracted spirit which would have 
confined the results and advantages of their achieve- 
ments to a community of scattered colonies or an as- 
sembly of thirteen states. Their aim was higher, 
broader and more comprehensive than this. They 
embraced in their conceptions, the associated inter- 
ests of mankind and the benefit of the world at large. 
Hence the emphatic language of their declaration 
that "all men are born free and equal and are endow- 



140 THE ORATION. 

ed with certain inalienable rlcrhts amono- which are 
life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." Less than 
this could not satisfy the demands of their patriotism 
and more than this they sought not to exact, either in 
the deliberations of the council chamber or amid the 
thunders of battle. The times in which they lived 
were auspicious for a demonstration in favor of lib- 
erty, and the men and the patriotism were there to 
support the enterprise. The star had risen in their 
horizon which was to be the guide to a political re- 
demption and under its genial rays the superiority of 
man's right to self government was to be supported 
and maintained. That star arose with the first dawn- 
ing of our revolution, and it continued to shine, with 
an undiminished lustre, until the termination of it, and 
to those who toiled and struggled in their country's 
service, it was the star of hope and promise, encour- 
aging them in their hours of gloom and despondency 
and lending additional life and spirit in the days of 
their victory and rejoicing. Just as the star of Beth- 
lehem shone over the manger, where was born the 
leader of a great moral revolution, which was destin- 
ed to crush the powers of darkness and redeem the 
world, so the genius of our independence springing 
up, as it were, in the depths of the untrodden wilder- 
ness, breathed its redeeming spirit upon the land, and 
lending its radiance to the great moral light which 
had culminated to its zenith, blended the power of 
political and religious glory in asserting the liberty of 
the human soul. 

The signers of the declaration of American inde- 



THE ORATION. I4I 

pendence belong to a generation which is past and 
gone. The last of that gallant assembly has long 
since slept with his fathers. There is nothing that 
survives them now but the memory of their heroic 
deeds and the splendid system of government they 
labored to establish. I would never weary in my 
contemplation of the virtues of these men, and had I 
a life time to expend for no other purpose, the study 
of their history and patriotism would amply compen- 
sate me for my toil. 

They were men of no ordinary mould. The rec- 
ords of other countries are full of examples of self- 
sacrifice and devotion to chosen and favorite objects. 
Men have languished in the dungeon and burned at 
the stake to accomplish some purpose of wild ambi- 
tion, or to subserve the designs of mistaken zeal or 
misguided fanaticism. Others for similar purposes, 
have bared their bosoms to the storms of battle and 
rushed madly to a doom they could not avert ; but nev- 
er, not even in the palmy days of the Roman and Gre- 
cian republics, was there brought together a brother- 
hood more undivided, less moved by selfish feelings 
and more earnestly devoted to the great cause they 
had espoused. They were not only contributors in 
the ordinary sense, to the cause of freedom, but their 
li'ves, their fortunes and their sacred honor were 
thrown Into the treasury. 

And the character of these men may be said, at 
least, to have been equal to the great and magnificent 
sacrifices which they made. Their personal position 
was no less proud than their patriotism was pure and 



142 THE ORATION. 

attractive. There was the learned and classic Adams 
the generous and accomplished Hancock, the vener- 
ble Stephen Hopkins, Charles Carroll of Carrollton' 
the fiery and impulsive mechanic and farmer hero, 
Roger Sherman, the patriotic and noble minded 
Thomas Jefferson, the enterprising and dauntless 
George Taylor, the warm hearted, but over sensitive 
Button Guinnette, Hall, Walton, Rutledge, Rush and 
Livingstone, and their noble compatriots, not forget- 
ting him of our own beloved commonwealth, who 
spoke to the thunder and the lightning and they fell 
harmless at his feet. Had the patriotic enterprise of 
these signers failed and their lives been forfeited, it 
would have been the saddest and most painful inci- 
dent in all human history. It would have been one 
over which not only men but angels would have wept. 

But there was an unseen divinity that presided ov- 
er their deliberations. Their trust was not alone in 
the power and potency of human skill and endurance. 
They had confidence in a higher and more enduring 
dependence. Uniting the justice of their cause with 
a firm reliance upon Divine Providence, they pledg- 
ed their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor- 
What power on earth could withstand a co-operation 
such as that? If God be for- us, who can be against 
us? 

It was the weak arm of a single commander, cloth- 
ed with his potent authority from their burning bush, 
that led the Israelites through their long and perilous 
journey to the borders of their promised land ; and 
it was the same authority, derived from the same in- 



THE ORATION. 



143 



visible source that brought the men of the revolution, 
step by step, from the first skirmish at Bunker's Hill 
to the achievement of the Canaan of their hopes and 
expectations in the proud and final victory on the 
plains of Yorktown. 

It would be difficult to arrive at any other conclu- 
sion than that our fathers, in their struggle for Inde- 
pendence, were sustained by a power such as this. — 
Take a few Instances In our early wars and the his- 
tory of our revolution. For what purpose was George 
Washington so miraculously preserved even long be- 
fore he had unsheathed his sword in defence of A- 
merican liberty? For example, in the French and In- 
dian war, when the Indian whose rifle never failed him 
before, fired seventeen fair shots at his body and yet, 
he who afterward became the leader of our armies 
escaped unhurt. And then again, during the darkest 
period of our revolution, when hope had almost died 
out, that same Washington, piloted his entire force 
across the river Delaware, In the midst of a furious 
and pelting snow storm, and amid huge masses of 
floating ice, and yet landed them safely on the other 
side and without the loss of a single man. What par- 
ticular providence was it, think you, on that occasion 
that sat at the helm and guided the frail craft in the 
face of the blinding tempest ? 

It certainly was no meaningless utterance of words 
when our fathers embodied in their declaration of in- 
dependence, "with a firm reliance upon Divine Prov- 
idence we pledge our lives, our fortunes and our sa- 
cred honor." If this be not so, then from whence 



144 THE ORATION, 

came the supernatural fire that warmed the breasts 
of our suffering soldiers, when, on the march to Tren- 
ton, they left the marks of their bleeding feet upon 
the frozen ground ? And what spirit was it that sus- 
tained them, when starved with an insufficient sup- 
ply of food and clothing, they languished through the 
long winter days and nights among the snow drifts 
at Valley Forge ? What unseen and invisible divin- 
ity was it that protected the brave Putnam in his 
equestrian flight down the rocky ledges that furnish- 
ed him the only means of escape, or threw its im- 
penetrable shield before the intrepid Wayne, when 
in the very front of the belching cannon, charged 
with grape and cannister, he snatched the sword 
from the hand of his unresisting adversary and broke 
it unceremoniously over his head ? Surely, in these 
remarkable incidents, we see something of the wis- 
dom displayed by our fathers, when, instead of rely- 
ing upon their own unaided strength, they sought the 
protection and anchored all their hopes upon the God 
of battle. 

The causes which led the American revolution are 
matters of history, with which the most ot you are 
familiar. They did not consist of a single outrage, 
but a multitude of them, oft repeated, until forbear- 
ance ceased to be a virtue and the wronged and in- 
sulted colonists were driven to resistance. Those out- 
rages are beautifully and forcibly set forth in that 
Declaration which we have heard read to day. To 
relieve themselves of these oppressions, it was not 
the design of our fathers to foster a spirit of hostility, 



THE ORATION. I 45 

towards the mother country or to rush recklessly in- 
to a bloody and unequal war. The measures they 
employed, at first, were conciliatory and persuasive. 
But their petitions were disregarded and their ap- 
peals treated with sovereign /contempt 

They felt themselves unequal to the task of com- 
mencing and prosecuting hostilities against the most 
powerful nation on the face of the earth. They were 
but few in numbers and but poorly provided with the 
means of a successful campaign. A million and a 
half of men, scattered over a vast expanse of terri- 
tory, unacquainted with the discipline of battle and 
the arts and the intrigues of war, were to be placed 
in competition with the well trained and experienced 
armies of the mother and conqueror of nations. No 
wonder that they hesitated, considered and delibera- 
ted before they struck the final blow. 

The spirit of the revolution was alive long before 
the flames of battle had burst forth. The fire had 
moved in the bosom of the volcano long before the 
boiling lava had spread itself over the land. The 
battles of Lexington and of Concord had both been 
fouo^ht before the colonists declared themselves free. 
Boston was the scene of patriotic commotion and de- 
cided resistance to British oppression at least a 
twelve-month before Cono-ress sent forth its unchano- 
able decree in favor of independence. The fire 
which British arrogance had fostered in the bosom of 
the body politic, was slowly, but surely consuming 
every vestige of loyalty in the men of that day, years 
before the sword was unsheathed from its scabbard, 



146 THE ORATION. 

and the cannon planted under the broad banner of 
liberty or death. And when, at length, after years of 
patient endurance, the clouds of war began to gath- 
er, the liorhtnlne to Qf-leam, the thunder to roll and 
the ghosts of deadly conflict to stride through the 
land, every heart among that little band of patriots 
beat in unison, every lip shouted the same war cry 
and every tongue spoke the same deep, pervading 
sentiment — ''liberty or death!' 

In the year 1775, above twelve months before the 
Declaration of Independence was adopted, George 
Washington was unanimously chosen by the Conti- 
nental Congress, Commander in Chief of the Amer- 
can armies. It may seem strange that surrounded 
as they were, at that time, by men of years and ex- 
perience, of irreproachable bravery and pure moral 
virtue, who ranked among the first in the country ; 
when Massachussetts could boast of such men as 
John and Samuel Adams and that arch rebel, as he 
was called, John Hancock, that the choice should fall 
upon George Washington, a citizen of a State, not 
'then immediately, connected with the active interest 
of the conflict. But such was the confidence repos- 
ed in him that he was elected, without a dissenting 
voice, to lead the armies of the country, at a time 
when all the skill, judgment, wisdom, prudence and 
foresight, which the human mind is capable of com • 
manding, were necessary for the emergency. And 
it was not lone, after, until the wisdom of the choice 
began to manifest itself. Having arranged his pri- 
vate affairs and taken a formal and affectionate far- 



THE ORATION. 



147 



well of his family, he leaves them with these most ex- 
traordinary directions, "Let the hospitality of the 
house, with respect to the poor, be kept up. Let no 
one go away hungry. If any of this kind of people 
should be in need of corn, supply their necessities, 
provided it does not encourage them to idleness; 
and I have no objection to your giving my money in 
charity, to the amount of forty or fifty pounds a year, 
when you think it well bestowed. What I mean by 
having objections, is that it is my desire that it should 
be done." Washington would accept of no salary 
for his services. They were given without money 
and without price. All that he could be prevailed 
upon to receive was the amount of his expenses — 
beyond that he would not go. 

There probably never was an important era in the 
history of any nation, which did not bring into notor- 
iety an ecjually important personage, who attracted 
much more than an ordinary share of public atten- 
tion. And in this particular Washington was the 
man of the revolution. Others were, perhaps, equally 
brave and skillful, willing to endure privations and- 
encounter danger in the discharo-e ot dutv ; but 
Washington seemed to hold in his hand the mamc 

o o 

wand by which our armies were directed in the path 
of victory and triumph. Whether it was upon the 
plains of Monmouth, stern and determined, riding to 
the front amid a fierce storm of bullets, with his drawn 
sword, rallying his broken and disordered columns 
and restoring his army from the panic of an ill-timed 
retreat, or in the silence of midnight, upon his bend- 



148 THE ORATION. 

ed knees, with the stars looking down upon his un- 
sheltered head, invoking the aid of the Divine power 
in words of earnest prayer; Washington was the same 
self-sacrificing patriot, whose heart beat with no other 
emotion than that of love for his God and for his suf- 
fering country. The knowledge of this fact inspired 
his men with confidence and led them to deeds of 
noble darinor. No throned monarch ever exerted 
such an influence over any army as he. He was the 
pillar of cloud by clay and the pillar of fire by night 
which shielded them alike from tne pursuit of the 
enemy and piloted them safely through the desert 
and the sea of battle. The magpie of his name and 
presence inspired them with new life and earnestness, 
and enabled them in the darkest hour of our national 
struggle, cheerfully to lead the forlorn hope, man- 
fully to mount die breach and gallantly to storm the 
battery in the very face of death and destruction. 

In the darkest days of the Revolution, after our 
terrible losses at Brandywine, and when the British, 
under General Howe, had possession of Philadelphia, 
and when the bloody massacre at Paoli, had struck 
terror and consternation into almost every heart, 
Washinortun remained firm and unshaken and never 
once lost confidence in our final success. "At this 
time when a general pardon was offered by the Brit- 
ish government, to all who would renew their oath of 
allegiance, and some of the most prominent and weal- 
thy men of the country, had accepted the terms and 
gone over to the enemy, Washington stood firm and 
unmoved amid all those scenes of trial and discour- 



THE ORATION. 1 49 

agement. He was not to be disheartened by tempo- 
rary misfortunes or driven from his purpose by threat- 
ening storms of adversity. "When his army was 
thought to be on the veror-e of annihilation and the 
whole world regarded American liberty as struggling 
in the last stage of its existence, he commenced and 
pursued an offensive warfare against a hitherto vic- 
torious army, strong in numbers and confident in its 
strength, dislodged it from every post it had taken 
along the Delaware river, relieved Philadelphia from 
danger and recovered almost the whole province of 
New Jersey." The glory of these achievements was 
rendered doubly conspicious by their immediate ef- 
fects upon the colonists. The drooping and despon- 
dent spirits of the people were aroused. They be- 
came inspired with new zeal and energy. The un- 
shaken faith and abiding confidence of their com- 
mander rendered him, to them, a great magnetic cen- 
tre towards which they were drawn by an attraction 
which they could not resist. The Continental Con- 
gress could not have selected a commander for their 
armies, better suited to the emergencies of the times 
than he. So far as human skill and ingenuity could 
be employed in controlling the energies of a strug- 
o-ling people, Washington discharged his ardous and 
perilous duties faithfully and well. 

In thus selecting George Washington from amongst 
the men of the Revolution, as an object of special 
consideration, I do not wish to be understood as at- 
tempting to detract from the well-earned fame of any 
of his noble and deathless compatriots. The history 



150 THE ORATION. 

ot that great struggle brings Into prominence and 
distinction, other men distinguished ahke for their 
bravery and patriotism. We glory in the achieve- 
ments of such men as Israel Putnam, Anthony Wayne, 
Philip Schuyler, Horatio Gates, John Sullivan and 
Nathaniel Green. These, too, have carved their 
names in the highest niches of fame's bright temple. 
But there were traits of character which Washington 
possessed which were never found in any man before, 
and hence the opinion, well-supported and sustained, 
that he was raised up, by the Almighty, for the ac- 
complishment of J-/is great purpose, in redeeming 
this land from slavery and planting, side by side, with 
with the silken banner of the cross, the stars and 
stripes which are the symbols of our country's glory. 
From the time the first cannon was fired in defence 
of American liberty until the surrender of Lord 
Cornwallis upon the plains of Yorktown, Washing- 
ton was the same calm, deliberate, brave, enduring 
patriot; his mighty energies constantly employed in 
the advancement of the good of the army and in aid 
of the great cause in which he was engaged. 

It is o-enerallv conceded that England, in our rev- 
olutionary struggle, died hard ; that she was badly 
beaten lonor before she surrendered. But the loss 
of so valuable an acquisition as the American colo- 
nies led to more than ordinary exertions on her part, 
and it was only when the last plank had been swept 
away from her, that she was willing to bend a wounded 
and bleeding suppliant at our feet. The surrender 
at Yorktown. was a proud triumph of the American 



THE ORATION. I5I 

arms. It was the closing up of a long and tedious 
struggle, the vindication of the cause we had espous- 
ed and a permanent death blow to despotism on this 
side of the Atlantic. From that day we commenced 
our existence as a free and independent people, hav- 
ing successfully won that distinction by our treasure 
and our blood. 

I will not tresspass upon the time of this audience 
by referring to the organization of our institutions, the 
formation of States, the adoption of the Constitution 
and the passage of laws in harmony with the demo- 
cratic character of our government. These are objects 
familiar in history and might at the present time, 
prove tedious and unprofitable. 

One by one, the men of the revolution have gone 
down to their graves, until all have disappeared be- 
hind the impenetrable veil which separates the pres- 
ent from the vast and unexplored future. They have 
left for us and our children a priceless legacy of free- 
dom, richer, by far, "than apples of gold set in pic- 
tures of silver" One hundred years of national exis- 
tence has given us a prominence among the nations 
of the earth which is alike proud and enviable. From 
thirteen original States, w^e have increased to thirty- 
eight free and independent sovereignties, blended to- 
gether in one common bond of union ; the great pal- 
ladium of our liberty and our hope in all time to come. 
The emblems of our nationality have been hoisted 
upon every hill-top and float in triumph upon land 
and sea. Our territory stretches, in its geographical 
boundaries from the shores of the Atlantic to the 



152 THE ORATION. 

Pacific Ocean. Civilization has achieved some of its 
proudest triumphs in our midst; rehgion sports its 
silken banner in our sky; learning and science have 
sprung up with the fruits of our soil; agriculture 
boasts its improvements and the mechanic arts have 
far exceeded the proudest stretch of ingenious aspi- 
ration. Our greatness, as a people, is proverbial 
throughout the world, and the nations look up to us 
with wonder and admiration. This is the end of our 
Revolution. This is the purchase of our fathers' 
blood. They sowed the seed, but it remained for us 
to reap the harvest. 

We have great reason to be thankful that we are 
permitted the enjoyment of our liberties in a land 
like this. Here we are surrounded by everything 
that is necessary to render its possession sweet and 
delightful. "Our lines have been cast in pleasant 
places," and we should be prepared to cultivate no 
other spirit amongst us but one of common patriot- 
ism and common brotherhood. We should remem- 
ber the virtues of our fathers and adopt them as ex- 
amples worthy of our imitation. To protect the 
liberty and honor of our common country should be 
our constant aim. Demand no more than what is 
right and submit to nothing that is wrong. Never 
anxious to provoke an insult, but prepared, at all 
times, to resist one when offered. We should be a 
people jealous of our rights and ready at all hazards, 
to maintain them; for it is only by a strict and faith- 
ful observance of these rules that we can consistently 
celebrate the fourth of July, or invoke, at its annual 



THE ORATION. I 53 

occurrence, the spirit and memories of the Revolu- 
tion. 

The people of York county have a special interest 
in the proper observance of this our great natal day. 
We have been particularly fortunate in having- in our 
own midst monuments and memories of the revolu- 
tion which can never perish. It was here at York, 
where the Continental Con ogress met, for delibera- 
tion, when General Howe had possession of the city 
of Philadelphia. This beautiful town, of which we are 
so justly proud — the home of your nativity and the 
home of my adoption; was, at that time, hallowed by 
the presence and pressed by the footsteps of Geo. 
Washington and his noble compeers. On the precise 
spot where now stands the beautiful and substantial 
residence of our talented townsman, Prof. Samuel B. 
Heiges, until a few years ago, stood the old building 
where W^ashington had his headquarters and where 
he and his subordinates met from time to time in mil- 
itary counsel; and some of the doors and wainscot- 
ing of that old building are still preserved in the new 
and handsome structure. The timber of which these 
ate composed is, at present, as firm and substantial 
as it was a hundred years ago. It has suffered noth- 
ing seemingly, from the natural decay of time, but 
like our glorious institutions of which it may be taken 
as a proper, but silent representative, has grown 
harder, firmer and more enduring with the marches 
of the generations, until it has become, substantially, 
an imperishable memorial of that which it really com- 
memorates. 



154 THE ORATION. 

We need but travel a short Sabbath day's journey 
north from our borough and enter our beautiful Pros- 
pect Hill Cemetery, to find, inside of a handsome iron 
enclosure, the grave and the monument of Philip Liv- 
ingstone, one of the signers of the Declaration of In- 
dependence. Turning from that point and coming 
back to the Main street, of our borough, near its east- 
ern extremity, in the old Presbyterian church yard, 
over which a solitary weeping willow casts its mourn- 
ino- shadows, we come to the mound beneath which 
sleeps the dust of the venerable James Smith, another 
signer of that immortal instrument. On his monu- 
ment we read the inscription, "James Smith, one of 
the signers of the Declaration of Independence, Aged 
93 years." In the quietude of our own homes, sur- 
rounded by our families, when the labors of the day 
are ended, we can turn back the pages of our local 
history, and there find the liberal contributions which 
York county gave to the men and the cause of the 
Revolution. There are those standing before me 
this evening and within the hearing of my voice, I 
venture to say, whose grandfathers fell battling for 
the liberties of our country. Let the stranger then, 
who visits our borough, be informed that the moment 
he plants his foot inside of our limits, that he is stand- 
ing upon holy ground. The genius of liberty, when 
it commenced its conquests upon American soil, 
found no nobler champions then those whose names 
are still perpetuated, in the persons of their children's 
children throughout the borough and county of York. 

The proper observance of this day ought not to be. 



THE ORATION. 



155 



therefore, a matter of mere centennial occurrence 
with us. We should greet each recurring anniver- 
sary with the same feelings of pride and the same 
[)atriotic demonstrations by which we are now sur- 
rounded. "Our right hand should forget its cunning 
and our tongues cleave to the roof of our mouths," 
wiien we cease to remember the sacrifices and pay 
due respect to the men who made us what we are. 

A hundred years in the past will necessarily be fol- 
lowed by a hundred years in the future. What that 
future will develop no one can tell Governments 
may change, and nations will continue to rise and 
fall, as heretofore, but may we not, at least, express 
the hope that our free institutions, whose foundation 
stones were watered by the tears and cemented by 
the blood of our fathers, will continue to advance 
from one degree of excellence to another, until the 
right of man to self government will be so thorough- 
ly and effectually established that the whole world 
will join in one universal chant of liberty and inde- 
))endence; commencing and being perpetuated, here, 
upon the shores of time, and finally finding its full 
fruition around the throne of God, 



X 









